nay 1 of 2

adverb

ˈnā How to pronounce nay (audio)
Definition of naynext
as in indeed
not merely this but also I was angry—nay, furious—at the way they were treating that poor dog

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

nay

2 of 2

noun

1
as in no
a vote or decision against something when the votes were tallied, it was 241 yeas and 54 nays

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in refusal
an unwillingness to grant something asked for gave a resounding nay to the request for a mixed-company camping trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nay
Adverb
So, coming live from my Van Down By the River, Old Prospector's pickaxe in my right hand, Cowbell in my left, Opera Man wig on my head, El Nino thundering away above it, here are the eight footballers who could, nay should, host SNL. — SI.com, 9 Oct. 2019 And journalists who actually do their jobs are nay-saying trouble-makers who have the temerity to not rely on press releases. — Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012
Noun
But my curiosity proved stronger than my nay-saying. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 Congress does not have a yay or nay on the merger, but Democratic lawmakers have warned of investigations and other actions, something that will prove much more salient if the party gains control of one or more chambers in the midterms. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nay
  1. indeed
  2. no
  3. refusal
  4. certainly
  5. veto
  6. rejection
  7. surely
  8. denial
Adverb
  • Sutton, indeed, saw his workload skyrocket down the stretch, with at least double-digit targets in four straight games in December.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2026
  • And indeed, the Yankees have won 27 World Series championships, more than any other sports franchise in North America, the most recent in 2009.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of indeed
Noun
  • Mecklenburg County, Matthews and Charlotte so far have remained a no on the project.
    — DJ Simmons August 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Wiseman said the strict no-phones wedding policy allowed for everyone to talk and get to know each other.
    — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Definition of no
Noun
  • Flake also said he was troubled by Collins' refusal to acknowledge President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this week, the State Department said the Brazilian government’s refusal to accept Perez’s appointment was a main reason for its decision to revoke the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States.
    — Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of refusal
Adverb
  • This would be a well-below-normal season, and certainly a welcome one for coastal residents in the United States from South Texas to Florida to Maine.
    — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Bringing in the Frenchman would certainly be a statement signing, and significantly boost an attacking line that is depleted following the exit of Mohamed Salah and the long-term loss of Hugo Ekitike to injury.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of certainly
Noun
  • Bill 26-0191 changes the veto and override time requirements for the budget and other bills by providing the council more time to potentially override a mayoral veto, thus giving more power to the council.
    — Joseph Landers, Baltimore Sun, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Republicans have held at least two-thirds of House and Senate seats for 14 years, giving them the ability to override a veto from the governor.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of veto
Noun
  • She’s seen students disappointed by the state’s rejection of an AP African American history course and English teachers strategically pick books that wouldn’t offend the governor’s sensibilities.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Not long ago, many clinicians, including Fejzo’s own doctor, still regarded the illness as a psychological rejection of motherhood, or a bid for attention.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of rejection
Adverb
  • While the Fathom will surely attract some Ford truck enthusiasts, its size, price point and electric powertrain all also likely bring in new buyers.
    — Greg Migliore, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Preventing the development of an Iranian nuclear weapon is surely a vital interest, and destroying Iran’s nuclear program is a clear objective that was plausibly attainable.
    — KORI SCHAKE, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of surely
Noun
  • He's put it on display, nicknamed it Dack, and, despite Cornell's denial, claims to have had it DNA tested.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • City staff have recommended the plan’s denial, according to the staff report.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of denial

Browse Nearby Words

nawabs
nay
nays
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nay. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on nay

Nglish: Translation of nay for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All