1
as in stealing
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 arresting
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nicking
Verb
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Prometheus was chained to a rock for stealing the fire of the gods and giving it to human beings.—
Alan Lightman
September 12,
Literary Hub,
12 Sep. 2025 -
Back in May, Steven Hale pleaded guilty to spending about a year between 2021 and 2022 stealing discs from his employer and selling them online through e-commerce sites.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Climate change has reduced its size dramatically, to a ghost of its former self, but the surrounding mountains are still arresting.—
Thomas Page McBee,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Sep. 2025
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The plaintiffs later accused the department of violating the order by hitting journalists with batons and arresting them during an August protest.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Navigating through your book can be done by setting up the volume keys to turn the pages, swiping left or right with your fingers, or activating one of the nine ‘hotspots’ on the screen to page forward, page back, or access the settings on the Boox reader app.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Back in the lineup after being hit by a pitch on the knee on Sunday, Buxton had two hits and took off after the first one, swiping his 22nd base of the season.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But many of the best-in-class companies are seizing on the chance to innovate and evolve.—
Shefali Kapadia,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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Since seizing effective control over the area after a 2012 standoff with the Philippines, China's coast guard has sought to keep local anglers away from the traditional fishing ground.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After grabbing an early lead Friday evening, the Royals were unable to match their hosts’ prolific offense on Friday.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 Sep. 2025
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The owner squeezed her hands into the mix of kittens, moving the babies and grabbing the one that did not belong, which turned out to be a tiny mouse.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But also on board the ship that night is this detective who is charged with apprehending Providence.—
Olivia Petty,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Sep. 2025
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The immediate priority for law enforcement is locating and apprehending the suspect who should be considered armed and dangerous.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Nicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nicking. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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