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as in refusals
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
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Recent Examples of nays
With Cornyn not on the floor, the vote for more than 25 minutes was stuck at 56 ayes and 40 nays, with three other GOP senators, Rick Scott of Florida, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson and Mike Lee of Utah, not voting, for unclear reasons.
—
Emily Wilkins,dan Mangan, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the decision following an endorsement from the Chamber of Deputies and a Senate vote that saw 76 ayes, five nays and 35 abstentions.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Emily Wilkins,dan Mangan, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the decision following an endorsement from the Chamber of Deputies and a Senate vote that saw 76 ayes, five nays and 35 abstentions.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nays
Noun
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While that effort went down with a wider margin, 84 nos and 17 yeses, a dozen Republicans supported it, revealing the extent of unease over the issue within the Senate GOP conference.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
On the framework amendment, there were 12 Republican noes.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The performance lives in tiny hesitations, fleeting glances and emotional refusals.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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Judge Panici, visibly frustrated with Talley’s refusals to answer his questions, ordered Talley held in custody until then.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The bill can take effect despite the vetoes, because the state constitution gives the governor the authority to alter line items.—
Ben Szalinski,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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The eight-member council would need six votes to override her vetoes.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Trump’s rejections cast a long shadow — not just over Illinois but over the entire federal disaster-response system — which critics say the president has bent to serve political ends.—
Daniel C. Vock,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
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If your organization is currently struggling with 10DLC compliance in the form of rejections or slow registration approval timelines, those issues won't disappear with RCS.—
Aaron Alter,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Local doctors, lawmakers, patients and the American Medical Association, say that the number of prior authorizations and claim denials that insurance companies issue is worsening.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2026
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Safety net hospitals also have fewer resources than more affluent hospitals to deal with denials from Medicaid managed care organizations, which occur when health insurers and other organizations that administer Medicaid benefits for the state deny payment for certain claims.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nays. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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