nice

adjective

ˈnīs How to pronounce nice (audio)
Definition of nicenext
1
as in pleasant
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses a cool glass of lemonade sure would be nice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polite
following the established traditions of refined society and good taste had nice manners

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in careful
hard to please she's far too nice about her clothes for me to even consider giving her clothing for her birthday

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4
as in gracious
having an easygoing and pleasing manner especially in social situations such a nice person to have as a party guest

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the noticeably nice folding of the dinner napkins told us that we were in the home of a domestic diva

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6
as in honorable
conforming to a high standard of morality or virtue in those days nice people would not have been caught dead in a gambling casino

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7
as in formal
marked by or showing careful attention to set forms and details a gentleman's club with a nice code of honor that no one can breach and still remain a member

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word nice different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of nice are accurate, correct, exact, precise, and right. While all these words mean "conforming to fact, standard, or truth," nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

When can accurate be used instead of nice?

The words accurate and nice can be used in similar contexts, but accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

When is it sensible to use correct instead of nice?

While the synonyms correct and nice are close in meaning, correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

Where would exact be a reasonable alternative to nice?

While in some cases nearly identical to nice, exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

How do precise and exact relate to one another, in the sense of nice?

Precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

How are the words right and correct related as synonyms of nice?

Right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

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 nice Shares are up about 18% from October lows, including a nice postelection boost last week on hopes a new Congress could help the sluggish housing market. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2026 The media source device and the projector can play nice over AirLink, Miracast, AirPlay, DNLA or Google Cast. — New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2026 Yes, Netflix is still turning a nice profit and delivering quarter-over-quarter growth. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 Nov. 2026 On the outside, the Colorado Stars and Steel edition had a nice stance, running boards and exterior logos commemorating the 250th anniversary of America. — Marc D. Grasso, Boston Herald, 12 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nice
  1. pleasant
  2. polite
  3. careful
  4. gracious
  5. subtle
  6. honorable
  7. formal
  8. delightful
Adjective
  • Afternoons should be mild and mostly sunny, with lower humidity making outdoor plans more pleasant.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Austin American Statesman, 2 Nov. 2026
  • As Los Angeles became more crowded and less pleasant a place to live, the high-handedness of Southern California developers and officialdom occasionally got those hands slapped.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • People were polite, kind and just anxious to do their duty and go about their day.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
  • My aunt and the woman were exchanging polite remarks, but there was a cold, unpleasant air between them.
    — Yasushi Inoue, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • This may reduce duplication, although temporary processing, logging, vendors and model-provider retention policies still need careful review.
    — Steve Dawson, Forbes.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • That flexibility could benefit experiments and sensitive equipment requiring careful handling after landing.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The entry-level rooms were intimate, while the suites featured elaborate bathrooms and expansive verandas overlooking the gardens, and the staff attended to me with the gracious reverence fit for a maharani.
    — Sucheta Rawal, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026
  • In This Article There are occasions that call for heirloom china and sparkling crystal, but a truly gracious host knows that the most enjoyable gatherings aren’t necessarily the ones with the finest things, but rather, a relaxed environment.
    — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of gracious
Adjective
  • It is mounted on a wristband and detects the subtle changes in the skin caused when fingertips press against the forearm.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Trump has not been subtle about his desire to restart diplomacy with Kim.
    — Stephen E. Biegun, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Tellingly, with some honorable exceptions, élite celebrities have been circumspect about the trashing of democracy in the MAGA era.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2026
  • What The Act Would Do Military retirement pay is earned compensation from the Department of Defense, in recognition of honorable service and career devotion.
    — Mark Hooson, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • The interior features an open-concept floor plan with high ceilings, a formal dining room, dedicated study and a chef’s kitchen.
    — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 14 Nov. 2026
  • The guy that published the formal proposal for what becomes the World Wide Web ( nod to Eric Florack for digging that up), the thing that makes this great column possible.
    — Joe Kinsey, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Al Fresco Bar Cart Made of solid and veneered walnut with elegant brass details, the Cotu (from the makers of our favorite bar cabinets) is a delightful midcentury-style bar cart that has a distinctive asymmetrical incline on each shelf.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Her South American sensibility means breads are made with flours like quinoa, cassava, and sweet potato, which gives them a delightful chewiness.
    — Luke Pyenson, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of delightful

Phrases Containing nice

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nibs
nice
nicely
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Cite this Entry

“Nice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nice. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nice

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nice

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