1
as in stole
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
that lorry was a piece of rubbish, I don't know why anyone would want to nick it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrested
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law
a petty thief who was always getting nicked for picking the pockets of tourists outside Buckingham Palace
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nicked
One pitch nicked the top of the zone.
—
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
He’s just been nicked up the last couple of years.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
At one point or another, everything in life gets nicked, scratched or broken — even our relationships.
—Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Would challenges be too boring if viewers already knew whether a pitch nicked the black?
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The visual evidence, indeed, showed that Kennedy’s finger likely nicked the stone.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 16 Feb. 2026
Morning glory and sweet pea seeds, for example, germinate best when nicked with a nail clipper, just enough to break the seed coat so moisture can enter more easily.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
So as of now, when the Hornets suit up for games on consecutive nights, that doesn’t mean their top two players who were nicked up during the season’s initial month won’t be in uniform and available.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 29 Nov. 2025
Atlanta returns from its bye week still nicked up in the secondary, with cornerback Clark Phillips out with a triceps injury, while safety Billy Bowman (knee) and corner Natrone Brooks (concussion) are questionable.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
He’s just been nicked up the last couple of years.
—Jayson Stark, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
At one point or another, everything in life gets nicked, scratched or broken — even our relationships.
—Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Would challenges be too boring if viewers already knew whether a pitch nicked the black?
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Feb. 2026
The visual evidence, indeed, showed that Kennedy’s finger likely nicked the stone.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 16 Feb. 2026
Morning glory and sweet pea seeds, for example, germinate best when nicked with a nail clipper, just enough to break the seed coat so moisture can enter more easily.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026
So as of now, when the Hornets suit up for games on consecutive nights, that doesn’t mean their top two players who were nicked up during the season’s initial month won’t be in uniform and available.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 29 Nov. 2025
Atlanta returns from its bye week still nicked up in the secondary, with cornerback Clark Phillips out with a triceps injury, while safety Billy Bowman (knee) and corner Natrone Brooks (concussion) are questionable.
—Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nicked
Verb
-
Shortstop Rachel Swenson drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, stole second and third base, and crossed home plate after a Country Day miscue to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
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Police said that in each instance, the thief broke into a locked car on the street or in a public parking garage and stole the vehicle.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Aaron Alex, 26, of Dallas; Bronya Freeman, 24, of Dallas; and Jay Jones, 28, of Lancaster, were arrested March 22 after a five-month investigation, police said.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Over the course of two weeks, two Laurel Highlands teachers were arrested after being accused of having inappropriate relationships with students.—
Ricky Sayer,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Holter, who lives about a mile away, remembers a suitcase stolen off a porch and a bicycle swiped.—
Celina Tebor,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
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The Monrovia Police Department said the woman suffered minor injuries after the bear swiped at her leg and scratched the back of her knee on Saturday.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The department shared photos of what their officers seized, which included a gun and a baby bottle authorities say was filled with the drug mixture known as lean.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In March, Hungarian counterterrorism authorities seized two trucks, owned by a Ukrainian bank, that were passing through the country on a routine cash-transport run from Vienna.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The prosecutor said Abril confronted the couple, at which point James MacEgan was shot and killed, before Abril grabbed MacEgan’s wife and pulled her into the creek.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Scheierman also hit two earlier threes, grabbed five rebounds and pestered Gilgeous-Alexander to force a third-quarter turnover to help Boston take down the defending NBA champions 119-109.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the case before the 8th Circuit, Joaquin Herrera Avila of Mexico was apprehended in Minneapolis in August 2025 for lacking legal documents authorizing his admission into the United States.—
AUDREY McAVOY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
27 Mar. 2026
-
He was later apprehended and found to have a trigger, rifle accessory and a box of ammunition totalling just over $544 in value.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nicked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nicked. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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