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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of nicks
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
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
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
-
The fundraising comes as analysts remain bullish on the outlook for AI memory chips, arguing that supply constraints in high-bandwidth memory are likely to persist for years as hyperscalers continue ramping up AI infrastructure spending.
-
Reggano Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad Kit Reggano Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad Kit includes pasta, vegetables, seasoning, and imitation bacon chips for a quick side dish.
Noun
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Correctional Health Services, which administers addiction treatment programs in the jails, said more efforts are needed to prevent drugs from getting into the facilities.
-
Deputies will continue to process individuals in custody at the South Placer and Auburn jails, officials said.
Verb
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Tired of living in Cinderella’s shadow, Lilith steals the Fairy Godmother’s (Bette Midler) magic wand and hijacks the Royal Ball with her sister, Margot (Stephanie Hsu).
-
Zidane steals the show France had been considered also-rans in the tournament, always falling short despite spectacular individual performances from players such as Just Fontaine and Michel Platini in previous editions.
Verb
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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.
-
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.
Noun
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But local history, including the region’s dead mobsters, Irish Catholic community, state prisons, and shuttered Italian restaurants, looms large on their new Coin-O-Matic.
-
Nowhere is that more visible than Krome Avenue, a road once known more for its nearby prisons than its family-friendly farm attractions.
Verb
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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).
-
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.
Verb
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Trump seizes America’s 250th-birthday spotlight, headlining the Great American State Fair, hosting a UFC bout at the White House and promoting new passports, $250 bills and coins bearing his image.
-
Ellie brings up the salad and seizes the opportunity to take credit for her part in making lunch.
Noun
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This includes providing the Colombian military more leeway in the field, signing a new security agreement with Washington and building 10 mega-prisons that mimic Bukele’s network of penitentiaries in El Salvador.
-
Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten.
Cite this Entry
“Nicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nicks. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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