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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
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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
-
The winningest teams lose and Hollywood, there's so many nos.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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French President Emmanuel Macron blasted tech company executives of social media platforms over refusals to limit or restrict speech.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Feb. 2026
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Conversation starters → Guy Fieri, a chef famous for trying everything, has revealed a few firm food refusals.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the 2025 legislative elections, La Libertad Avanza, in alliance with the right-wing Republican Proposal, or PRO, party, consolidated its position as the largest bloc in both chambers and secured the one-third needed to uphold presidential vetoes in Congress.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
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Hobbs, a Democrat who broke the record for vetoes signed last year, is unlikely to sign these bills.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The comments were in response to questions about an editorial published earlier this week in The Wall Street Journal that questioned Prasad’s role in the rejections and accused Prasad of insisting on clinical trials that are too difficult and expensive to pull off.—
Ed Silverman,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
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For workers, that might look like applying for jobs despite already receiving countless rejections.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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These denials are on top of the harassment and violence that trans people can face in health care settings and the struggles to access preventive screenings for conditions like cancer, compared to their cisgender peers.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
27 Feb. 2026
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The denials were reiterated in Friday's lawsuit filings.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nays. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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