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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
Example Sentences
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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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The winningest teams lose and Hollywood, there's so many nos.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
10 Sep. 2025
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Some guys have been immediate nos.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Mass refusals also led to the cancellation of multiple PEN America events.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
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Roberts’s votes in recent years—such as his decision to deny review in cases involving service refusals—suggest a preference to limit rather than undo .—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The lack of vetoes signals Crowley's agreement that the board's changes strike the right note of protecting services for vulnerable residents while steering the county toward a more fiscally responsible future.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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If Johnston had vetoed any of the amendments, the council would have had an opportunity Monday to consider overriding any of those vetoes, but would have needed a supermajority to do so.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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At least seven grand jury rejections have occurred across five different cases since the administration’s crime and security surge crackdown began in August.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Jan. 2026
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Extraordinary rejections Granted, all these grand juries were in liberal jurisdictions, but their rejections of prosecutors’ claims are still striking, since indictments are usually notoriously easy to secure.—
Michelle Goldberg,
Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The high court’s denials attest to the fact that the city is not above the state’s environmental law, Everett DeLano, a lawyer representing plaintiff Save Our Access, told the Union-Tribune on Monday.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
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Additionally, the county health system was losing $80 million to $100 million per year due to claim denials before the OIIG issued a report about that situation.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nays. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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