NICKS Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

nicks 1 of 2

noun

plural of nick

as in chips

a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface I made a nick in the frame when I accidentally dropped it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

outsides

nicks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of nick, British slang

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

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

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 nicks

Noun

Be sure that the jars are free of nicks and cracks, and the lids aren't dented or rusted. —

Martha Stewart, 12 June 2026 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

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

Not surprisingly, some of the most addictive foods named in the study were grocery store junk foods — ultraprocessed cookies, cakes, doughnuts, muffins, pies, pizza, chips, candy and other snack foods.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
Using a non-comparative, cradle-to-gate method that excluded downstream applications and packaging, the study tracked materials from extraction or waste collection to the final textile-ready product, whether PET chips, staple fiber or yarns.

— Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 17 June 2026