1
2
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
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 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
-
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
-
The performance lives in tiny hesitations, fleeting glances and emotional refusals.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
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
-
Rounding out his vetoes Wednesday, Polis nixed Senate Bill 184.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
In fact, Hilton is envisioning vetoes putting lawmakers on record; the last time a session in Sacramento overrode a veto was in 1979.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Those entry denials, which came amid months of military conflict between the two countries, forced the Iranian national team to move its training camp to Mexico instead of Arizona, where they were originally scheduled to stay.—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
The game flipped right after with a 10-2 spearheaded by Brunson, who no longer faced a flurry of denials on every single offensive possession.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nays. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
