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
-
Artisanal work of this caliber is rare air indeed—an heirloom object that appears to defy gravity but is firmly rooted in generations of savoir faire.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Some pundits claim that social media is the equivalent to smoking cigarettes or illicit drugs, a common but false claim in technology moral panics (indeed such comparisons have been identified as a warning sign of misinformation).—
William Proctor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Keep yards tidy—overgrowth, dead plants, and weedy driveways are neighborhood no-nos.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 Apr. 2026
-
After two seasons in Division II (Valdosta State), the former no-star recruit leveled up with the competition upon making the leap to the FBS.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In fact, the GOP has made things worse, with tax policies favoring corporations over working people, a refusal to expand health access through Medicaid and keeping some of the lowest unemployment benefits of any state.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday sent a letter to Barry University School of Law warning that the institution is in violation of the state’s consumer protection laws over its refusal to recognize a student chapter of Turning Point USA.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
My sisters certainly haven’t lost me to Hugh.—
David Sedaris,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
If there's a better version of Madison Taylor, that would certainly be scary for any of the Wildcats opponents the rest of the way.—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Orbán has used his veto power in the EU to stymie sanctions on Russia and block crucial funding to Kyiv.—
Justin Spike,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
From migration laws to the EU’s support for Ukraine, Orbán has repeatedly used procedural delays and the power of veto to derail key agreements.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This election could reshape not just Hungary but signal a broader European rejection of the illiberal, nationalist movements Orbán inspired among the global far-right.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
As GLP-1s become more ubiquitous, leading many to scramble after insurance rejections, both manufacturers are looking to draw in more customers who either prefer to avoid a needle or were unable to swing the out-of-pocket price.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The scrutiny of fame has always been dehumanizing, though the ubiquity of the modern-day comment section has surely accelerated and exaggerated its cruelty.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Raven Johnson, point guard, South Carolina Johnson doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of what Golden State does offensively, but with a need at backup point guard, the Valkyries could surely use the defensive tenacity Johnson brings.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Is this part of a process of grieving or one of denial?—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The judge’s denial was overturned on appeal.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nay. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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