1
2
as in jails
British slang
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the blokes at the pub traded stories of nights spent in the nick after having lifted too many pints
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in steals
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrests
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
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Recent Examples of nicks
Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Built with lasting quality, it’s made to stand the test of time, while the distressed finish helps disguise everyday dings and nicks.
—Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
If your sponge has tears or nicks, that’s an automatic toss.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Smooth Dents and Remove Stains from Wood Wooden floors and tables can be extremely prone to dents, nicks, and stains, but an iron can be a surprisingly effective way to clear off water stains and smooth out dents.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
Up and down rosters everywhere, nicks, bruises, tears, strains and sprains continue wreaking havoc on our fantasy rosters.
—John Laghezza, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Edges at the perimeter of the card are observed to see if there are any nicks or marks on the back or front.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
His hard hat bears months of nicks and scrapes, testament to the massive transformation underway in the 25,000-square-foot former food court at the Shops at Rivercenter mall in downtown San Antonio.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026
Soothing oils like shea, sweet almond, and jojoba intensely soften the skin, preventing nicks, with aloe and vitamin E stepping in to calm things down post-shave.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026
Mora strikesout swinging, and Qualia gets Carson on a breaking ball that nicks the corner of the zone.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
In the book, the protagonist Jonathan Harker nicks himself with a razor and senses Dracula’s rapt attention.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
If the surgeon accidently nicks a vein or cuts through a tumor in a way that causes a leakage of cancerous cells, the recovery mode is to undock the robot rapidly, cut the patient open, and fix the problem the old-fashioned way.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 July 2022
Noun
Minimal nicks can typically be removed by sharpening the blades, but serious damage may necessitate a blade replacement.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Built with lasting quality, it’s made to stand the test of time, while the distressed finish helps disguise everyday dings and nicks.
—Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
If your sponge has tears or nicks, that’s an automatic toss.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026
Smooth Dents and Remove Stains from Wood Wooden floors and tables can be extremely prone to dents, nicks, and stains, but an iron can be a surprisingly effective way to clear off water stains and smooth out dents.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
Up and down rosters everywhere, nicks, bruises, tears, strains and sprains continue wreaking havoc on our fantasy rosters.
—John Laghezza, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Edges at the perimeter of the card are observed to see if there are any nicks or marks on the back or front.
—Kate Perez, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
His hard hat bears months of nicks and scrapes, testament to the massive transformation underway in the 25,000-square-foot former food court at the Shops at Rivercenter mall in downtown San Antonio.
—Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026
Soothing oils like shea, sweet almond, and jojoba intensely soften the skin, preventing nicks, with aloe and vitamin E stepping in to calm things down post-shave.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
That means a ball that nicks a sliver of the plate at the front and then dives into the dirt will not be called a strike by ABS.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026
Mora strikesout swinging, and Qualia gets Carson on a breaking ball that nicks the corner of the zone.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
In the book, the protagonist Jonathan Harker nicks himself with a razor and senses Dracula’s rapt attention.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
If the surgeon accidently nicks a vein or cuts through a tumor in a way that causes a leakage of cancerous cells, the recovery mode is to undock the robot rapidly, cut the patient open, and fix the problem the old-fashioned way.
—IEEE Spectrum, 5 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nicks
Noun
-
The two-hour limit (and the complimentary snacks of watermelon and chips) also make this a great choice for families.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
-
On May 8, the Wall Street Journal reported that the two companies reached a preliminary deal to produce some Apple chips.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Each of them was taken to Kentucky jails for detention, but the government separated them and held them in different facilities.—
Gregory Royal Pratt,
Chicago Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
To address custody deaths in Los Angeles County jails, Bornman wants to increase staffing and drug searches and look at contracting with outside hospitals and treatment centers for ill and addicted people in jail.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Their brother, Bill, steals the film as an unstable groundskeeper who is tasked with killing an errant gopher.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
-
One of the ostriches steals Turk’s Kangol hat and puts it on.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Keith arrests our thinking, and cons us into suppressing our critical faculties with the same kind of internalized surveillance that philosopher Michel Foucault broke down to describe a prison’s use of the panopticon in Discipline and Punish.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Dees was one of hundreds of men being housed out of state in private prisons.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
-
Colorado voters passed Amendment A, a ballot measure touted as an end to slavery in state prisons in 2018.—
Julia Bowling,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Geomagnetic conditions are expected to intensify late tonight into early tomorrow, if the CME swipes Earth, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC).—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
12 May 2026
-
In season one, Coop swipes jewelry, expensive wine, designer handbags and more to pay his alimony, child support and to keep up appearances in a neighborhood where appearances are all that matter.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ellie brings up the salad and seizes the opportunity to take credit for her part in making lunch.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
26 May 2026
-
While Linda seizes, Bradley makes a break for it on a makeshift raft.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 May 2026
Noun
-
Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The wave of prison violence is happening despite the deployment of military and police forces in several penitentiaries.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nicks. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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