not

adverb

Definition of notnext
as in never
in no way or under no circumstances The food was so burnt that it was not edible.

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for not
  1. never
  2. rarely
  3. seldom
Adverb
  • Its epic-length bookends transposed the funereal aims of Bell Witch’s modern doom masterpiece Mirror Reaper to Floydian realms, while its gentler, more meditative midsection never completely renounced the artists’ metal roots.
    — Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Perhaps never before in midterm contests has the electorate waved such a huge middle finger at a president and his craven enablers, otherwise known as Republicans.
    — Bradley Gitz, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of never
Adverb
  • Crossword puzzles may include verbs or adjectives that one rarely has occasion to see or use elsewhere.
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The results of message polls are rarely shared publicly, the experts said.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of rarely
Adverb
  • Steven Pasquale, prolific and robust as an actor and here directing for the first time, has put his finger on something in turning Odets’s agitprop one-act, often referenced but seldom performed, into a kind of workers’ dream ballet.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Boot adds that Trump seldom has a cross word for any dictator while regularly berating democratic allies.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of seldom
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.

Phrases Containing not

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nosy
not
notabilities
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Cite this Entry

“Not.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/not. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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