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
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
This waterproof trimmer is ergonomic, rechargeable, and built with SkinSafe blades that help reduce nicks.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
If your sponge has tears or nicks, that’s an automatic toss.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
The six-time All-Star is widely known for being injury-prone, so the Warriors can probably expect Butler to miss some time due to some nicks and bruises next season, at the very least.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
No nicks or bruises or paper cuts from flipping through his playbook.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
This waterproof trimmer is ergonomic, rechargeable, and built with SkinSafe blades that help reduce nicks.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025
If your sponge has tears or nicks, that’s an automatic toss.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025
With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
The six-time All-Star is widely known for being injury-prone, so the Warriors can probably expect Butler to miss some time due to some nicks and bruises next season, at the very least.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nicks
Noun
-
Its core business is semiconductor test systems, which verify that chips function properly and meet performance and durability standards before they are shipped.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
-
This funding is directed toward data centers and Nvidia chips.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s border advisor, Tom Homan, announced Thursday that federal authorities would wind down immigration crackdowns in Minnesota, but only if agents were given access to jails to seize undocumented immigrants for deportation.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The government is now looking for cooperation from local jails.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If your boss repeatedly steals credit, your first move is not to react.—
Chris Lipp,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Department of Damage Control arrests Trevor.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The sheer scale of an estate for sale in San Francisco’s tony Pacific Heights neighborhood — a residence spanning 26,000 square feet, or the equivalent of 10 average homes — arrests the imagination.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said other issues remain to be resolved between the two countries, including the fate of Lebanese believed to have been disappeared into Syrian prisons during Assad's rule and the demarcation of the border between the two countries.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Under Evers' plan to overhaul the state's system of prisons, the youth prison will be converted into a facility housing adult inmates.—
Molly Beck,
jsonline.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Continue reading … DARING DASH – Sneaky feline swipes a free snack — and it's caught on video.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Soon after, a desperate man named Boomba, who witnessed Ma stealing from the shelter, breaks into her home and swipes her food, her phone, and a purse containing her family’s invaluable travel documents.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Season 2 also seizes on an obvious opportunity.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The team successfully seizes two tons of gold and apprehends the leader of the criminal network.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
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After his conviction, Gray was sent to Angola, one of the most violent penitentiaries in the country at the time.—
Richard A. Webster,
ProPublica,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nicks. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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