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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 list of noes from top free agents since then is not insignificant.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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The winningest teams lose and Hollywood, there's so many nos.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
10 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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That funding was later vetoed by the governor as part of broader cultural budget vetoes.—
Geo Darder,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
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Trump vetoes a bill that would help deliver clean drinking water to southeastern Colorado communities by financing a pipeline.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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 Social Security Administration’s sudden reversal of its earlier denials about DOGE’s rampage through its most sensitive records rattled Social Security advocacy groups.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
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While there are allegations that surveillance cameras operated by such retail partners as Flock Safety are being use to assist ICE raids as some activist investors charge, retailers should assert this electronic collaborating is not true—consistent with denials by Flock Safety.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nays. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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