Synonyms of nay

nay 1 of 2

adverb

ˈnā 

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

• indeed
• certainly
• surely
• definitely
• truly
• even
• in fact
• verily
• in truth
• in reality
• positively
• really
• undoubtedly
• yea
• assuredly
• unquestionably
• doubtless
• undeniably
• indisputably
• incontestably
• decidedly
• incontrovertibly

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

• no
• veto
• refusal
• non placet
• con
• negative
• denial
• negation
• blackball

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yea
• positive
• yes
• approval
• pro
• acceptance
• grace

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

• refusal
• rejection
• denial
• no
• nonacceptance
• declination
• disallowance
• injunction
• rebuff
• repudiation
• veto
• turndown
• spurn
• suppression
• repulse
• ban
• discouragement
• repression
• negative
• deterrence

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• approval
• grant
• allowance
• consent
• agreement
• permission
• acceptance
• sanction
• assent
• concurrence
• OK
• license
• leave
• authorization
• clearance
• acquiescence
• accession
• signature
• seal
• sufferance
• stamp
• imprimatur

Example Sentences

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