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
1
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
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Recent Examples of nay
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
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2025
The program is set to expire Dec. 31, 2026, but on Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill out of committee (13 ayes, no nays) that would extend the program, and the same major players from the 2013 legislative session are lobbying again to extend and improve the tax credit.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
All this despite the nay-saying of classic-car purists.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2025
The program is set to expire Dec. 31, 2026, but on Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee advanced a bill out of committee (13 ayes, no nays) that would extend the program, and the same major players from the 2013 legislative session are lobbying again to extend and improve the tax credit.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for nay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nay
Adverb
-
Freshmen, indeed, were the difference.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
This would be much funnier if Rimura were, indeed, simply a slime.—
Beatrice Loayza,
Variety,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The worst outcome is hearing a no; the best is a manageable monthly payment that keeps your pet from going untreated.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Nakase respectfully told her no.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
She was known among her neighbors for her generosity and spunk — and among her relatives for stubborn refusal to leave Bellevue Square, her home of 54 years, The Courant reported in 1997.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The New York Democrat called out Hegseth for the administration’s refusal to seek approval of Congress for the war.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Campbell has certainly been doing that this spring for the Crusaders.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Throughout it all, Powell steered the Federal Open Market Committee to mostly unanimous decisions, building consensus across 11 other central bankers who almost certainly didn’t agree with him or each other.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Super-majority thresholds are common in government (like a 67% requirement to over-ride a governor’s veto) and in the private sector.—
Kent Thiry,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Letterboxd co-founder Matthew Buchanan retains veto rights over any potential buyer, a condition intended to preserve the site’s original spirit.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Speaking at an event held at the Aloft Hotel in Doral, a hub for Venezuelan diaspora activism, Guanipa painted a bleak picture of conditions inside Venezuela and sharply criticized the country’s current leadership, accusing those in power of clinging to control despite widespread rejection.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
-
Many researchers, clinicians and patient advocates soon rushed to RP1’s defense, claiming that the FDA had made a mistake in its rejection.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
2 May 2026
Adverb
-
The most idealistic former President was surely Jimmy Carter, whose projects ranged from building housing for the poor to battling to eradicate guinea-worm disease in Africa.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Andrew Chismer made this point on our pages this week in a smart Opinion piece on the unconscionable snarls on Halsted Street near the city’s new casino, to which many future customers will surely drive.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Some admitted to feeling denial that their death would come.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
-
The denial pattern is documented, the appeal odds are better than most people realize, and a federal rule that took effect this year has shortened the timeline insurers can drag things out.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nay. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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