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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nicking
If the outer coating is exceptionally hard, seeds may need even more help by nicking the seed coat before soaking.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
Squash Beets Beans Pumpkin Corn Chard Super hard seeds like beans will benefit from nicking the seed coat with a sandpaper block, file, or sharp knife before soaking.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 Mar. 2026
Squash Beets Beans Pumpkin Corn Chard Super hard seeds like beans will benefit from nicking the seed coat with a sandpaper block, file, or sharp knife before soaking.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nicking
Verb
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In the movie, which was progressive for its time, the trans character attempts suicide after being subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the manipulative Sonny, who tries to make amends by going rogue and stealing money for their surgery.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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While South Florida locals debate whether Fort Lauderdale is truly stealing Miami’s thunder, Smorgasburg’s move from the 305 to the 954 is indicative of Fort Lauderdale’s growing food scene and appeal to young people.—
Amanda Rosa
March 31,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Federal officials reinstated the 1998 order in February after arresting her.—
Sophie Austin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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However, just before the ceremony was set to begin, two officials from the county's sheriff's office halted the wedding by arresting Armstrong.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Pinch-and-hold switches noise modes, while swiping up or down controls volume.—
Christian de Looper,
PC Magazine,
30 Mar. 2026
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Hamilton has reached base five times in his nine plate appearances, swiping three bags.—
Andy Behrens,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Riverside County sheriff and GOP governor candidate draws heat for seizing 650,000 ballots from last November’s election, claiming possible fraud with little evidence.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Much speculation has been focused on US forces potentially seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kyla Oldacre led Texas with 11 points off the bench while grabbing seven rebounds.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
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The victim listed in the police records later told police about two incidents of physical assault, including grabbing, scratching, shoving and striking, according to the documents.—
Meriam Bouarrouj,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Fort Worth police officer Bobbie Sanchez, who was elbowed in the jaw while apprehending a suspect, told the Star-Telegram there was not a single oral surgeon in the city’s network who could treat her injuries, which delayed her recovery.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
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That process has effectively scared many people away from filling out paperwork to recertify with Medi-Cal due to fears of being outed by the federal government, which is cracking down on undocumented immigrants by apprehending and deporting them.—
Pat Maio,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nicking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nicking. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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