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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 DeVito has a nice scramble DeVito showed off his running skills in the second quarter, breaking free for a 36-yard scramble to get the Patriots into Eagles territory for the first time. — CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026 Claudio Villa/Getty Images For Inter’s owners, becoming the first Italian team to retain the league title since 2020 would be nice, but the Champions League has the biggest financial effect on the club’s season. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 If Mizzou falls to Ole Miss before the off week, this should be a nice bounce-back spot. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 23 Aug. 2026 There’s a small kitchenette and landing with a dining table, nice for a morning coffee or simply the feeling of having a little more space. — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 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
  • Engler said even in her early days of stardom, Parton was always kind and pleasant.
    — Jessica Guay, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ed Ingram was a pleasant surprise last season, but will that continue?
    — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of pleasant
Adjective
  • In other words, what happens when their agreeable or polite approach to attaining something doesn’t work?
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Tell us about the crew From the waitstaff in the restaurants to the bartenders to the butler, the crew members were unfailingly polite and helpful.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of polite
Adjective
  • Apply the serum directly to sparse areas of your brows, being careful to avoid letting the product touch other areas of your skin.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • According to the researchers, careful process design and optimization as well as architecture simplification could help in solving most of these issues, something that industrial production focuses on much more than academic researchers.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The gracious master of ceremonies gave me the place of honor in the line-up, directly behind him, with Reiffer and the two shikaris bringing up the rear.
    — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Walters asks, with a show of reluctance, questions about hillbillies, adolescent development, breast surgeries and her husband — though the singer’s answers are always gracious.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of gracious
Adjective
  • Greenspan was renowned for his formidable data-crunching capabilities, sharp reading of market psychology, and subtle, often elusive communication style.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The cabin interiors are built from a lovely blonde wood, which was aesthetically pleasing, if a little creaky at times, while the white linens on the comfortable queen bed were a subtle reminder that this is a luxury accommodation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Initially receiving a general discharge, Matlovich’s status was later elevated to honorable.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • From Prime Minister Mark Carney’s standpoint, Canada had no honorable alternative.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of honorable
Adjective
  • Early acting career Although Turner had no formal training, his raw talent soon caught the eye of several television directors.
    — L. Sue Baugh, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • When the Soviet Union collapsed, NATO lost its formal justification.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of formal
Adjective
  • Food and drink Name two more delightful words in the English language than ‘breakfast buffet’.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Here’s our Beginner’s Guide to Premier League teams, with history, mascots, kits and the most surprising or delightful fact about each team from our reporters.
    — Matt Piper, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of delightful

Phrases Containing nice

Browse Nearby Words

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 30 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nice

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about nice

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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