NIGH Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

nigh 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of nigh

as in near

not being distant in time, space, or significance the end is nigh

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nigh

2 of 4

adverb

ˈnī

as in close

at, within, or to a short distance or time have worked for them for nigh on 10 years

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in almost

very close to but not completely he has nigh completed his degree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nigh

3 of 4

preposition

as in around

close to a field nigh the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

nigh

4 of 4

verb

as in to close

to come near or nearer as the hour of his death was nighing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to approach

to move closer to as the old man was nighing his hour of death

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 nigh

Adverb

The wildfires of rumour, once lit, are nigh impossible to extinguish. — Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 Equipment can fail; guidelines can break; visibility can become nigh on impossible. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 25 May 2026

Verb

Typically, his charges have shown the classic mental strength to get over the line in awkward games—with opposition teams having to execute their game plan to nigh on perfection to prosper in most cases. — Henry Flynn, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for nigh

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nigh

Adjective

Detection of near-surface ice is of interest both scientifically as well as in support of future human expeditions to Mars.

— Leonard David, Space.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Multiple news outlets reported that Anthropic, at an investor presentation ahead of its planned IPO expected in the near future, announced its sales grew 45% to $17 billion last quarter.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of near

Adverb

The Brewers even have their own version of the White Flag trade, dealing star closer Josh Hader to the Padres for four players with the team in first at the 2022 deadline.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Any lead is comfortable for All-Star closer Bryan Baker, but four runs was a walk in the park.

— Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of close

Adverb

There’s plenty of other awful things happening in the episode, almost all of them revolving around Sai.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Genetic comparisons revealed that deep-sea viral communities in the region are almost entirely unique, with just 4 percent of their protein clusters matching global databases.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of almost

Preposition

Vocals strain at the center of the songs while lonesome organs burn around the margins like the argon glow of a street-sign montage.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
Many metro stations were closed Saturday at police request, including those around the Champs-Elysées and near the presidential palace, Parliament and government offices.

— SYLVIE CORBET, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of around

Verb

Monday's attack came a day after a Russian drone struck the village of Pisochyn in the Kharkiv district, killing three people and injuring nine others, including children, according to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Most people come here for the ever-evolving menu of house cocktails.

— Condé Nast, cntraveler.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of come

Verb

With the presidential elections approaching next April, political parties are scrambling to position themselves in relation to a protest movement that has shown no sign of abating.

— Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
As seen from Planet 2, Planet 1 will appear to approach on the inside lane, slow down, move to the outside lane and then fall away once again.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of approach

Adverb

David plays himself in the scene, trying and failing to get a table at a fancy restaurant, only to watch Hannah walk in and get seated immediately.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2026
In the best-case scenario, those flaws can be worked through and improved upon as the Leafs settle in and get used to new systems and new teammates.

— James Mirtle, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of in

Adverb

Remember the old Popeye and spinach routine, where the squinty-eyed sailor scarfs down a can of leafy greens and his muscles practically burst out of his shirt?

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026
The chase for a third consecutive World Series championship is historically and essentially and practically kaput.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of practically

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nigh. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nigh

adjective

adverb

preposition

verb

Example Sentences

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