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

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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

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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
  • Tacos at the waffle place, waffles at the chicken place; our cups indeed runneth over.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The idea is that as an operator mimes picking up a pile of rocks, the arm would generate a force in response, as if the operator could feel the heaviness of the rocks, confirming that the excavator is indeed picking them up.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of indeed
Noun
  • Proportional Data Access​ Finally, the policy engine needs a proportionality check, not just a yes/no gate.
    — Gopichand Mannava, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Playing loud music and shouting in the halls are also considered big no-nos.
    — Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of no
Noun
  • It’s built on depth, high-end baseline talent, and a fundamental refusal to look like a mess when actual game lights turn on.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Students who took the stand described a heated exchange over Anthony’s refusal on a rainy spring day to leave a tent that belonged to Metcalf’s team.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of refusal
Adverb
  • The young Moroccan caught the eye at the World Cup and certainly has the potential to become one of the best deep-lying midfielders in the game.
    — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Over the past several years, South Korea has emerged as a world-class military power – not quite on the level of the US or China, but certainly capable of defending itself against North Korea.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of certainly
Noun
  • Crowley has said local communities must have veto authority while also calling data centers a part of the modern economy that could bring significant economic benefits to the state.
    — Jesse Bedayn, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Crowley has taken a more nuanced approach, saying local communities must have veto authority, while also saying data centers are a part of the modern economy and could bring significant economic benefits to the state.
    — Marc Levy, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of veto
Noun
  • Social media’s instant rejection of Netflix’s Qwikster spinoff, for instance, forced the company to scuttle that bad idea almost immediately after it was introduced in 2011.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
  • After all, the billionaire founder lived a whirlwind of a career, turning down lucrative job offers and weathering professional rejection before ultimately launching one of the world’s biggest biotech companies.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of rejection
Adverb
  • Two of their best relievers surely would have helped, but each was used so much during the summer win streak that elbow soreness sidelined them.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The neighborhood Just moments from Lamb’s Conduit Street and directly behind the British Museum, the location is surely hard to beat for those seeking a truly London experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of surely
Noun
  • That’s because immigration lawyers worry people won’t get a fair shake thanks to frequent denials of bond.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026
  • And, 94, roughly 20%, were medical grievances related to insufficient medical care and denial of medications.
    — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of denial

Browse Nearby Words

nawabs
nay
nays
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Cite this Entry

“Nay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nay. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of nay for Spanish Speakers

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