1
as in cipher
a person of no importance or influence
that tiny country's ambassador from the U.S. is usually some nullity who happens to be a friend or supporter of the current president
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in negligibility
the quality or state of being unimportant
one of the basic themes of the theater of the absurd is the essential nullity of human existence
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of nullity
Where was this sneaking sense of doom and nullity coming from?
—
Nell Zink, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2025
The Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron won a design competition to transform the Bankside Power Station, a gargantuan nullity on the south (read: wrong) side of the Thames.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 8 May 2025
If death metal is more fatalistic, more depressive — though not necessarily nihilistic — black metal, at least early on, was more interested in examining evil and proclaiming the nullity of certain values, including musical values.
—Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2025
Conversely, if the TCJA overrides the analysis set forth in the revenue procedure, the TCJA would govern, rendering Rev. Proc. 2009-20 a nullity.
—Matthew Roberts, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Journal Editorial Report: How to make Congress a nullity.
—Giovanni Caforio, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2023
Nell Zink, New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2025
The Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron won a design competition to transform the Bankside Power Station, a gargantuan nullity on the south (read: wrong) side of the Thames.
—Jason Farago, New York Times, 8 May 2025
If death metal is more fatalistic, more depressive — though not necessarily nihilistic — black metal, at least early on, was more interested in examining evil and proclaiming the nullity of certain values, including musical values.
—Mikal Gilmore, Rolling Stone, 30 Mar. 2025
Conversely, if the TCJA overrides the analysis set forth in the revenue procedure, the TCJA would govern, rendering Rev. Proc. 2009-20 a nullity.
—Matthew Roberts, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Journal Editorial Report: How to make Congress a nullity.
—Giovanni Caforio, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nullity
Noun
-
Like Dostoyevsky, Capote doesn’t portray his killers as demonic ciphers, instead capturing their messy complexity.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Two streetlamps engaged in a mute but luminous dialogue, an indecipherable Morse code, alluding to the silent exchanges and secret ciphers of strangers who meet there for their trysts.—
Javier Montes,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Many of Newsom’s critics who breathlessly report on his evil plans (that the left-wing mainstream media supposedly cover up) are just nobodies who feign authority and are obviously fronting for right-wing organizations.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
16 Dec. 2025
-
Where else could award winning writers pop off about nothing at all, and nobodies could rattle the ivory towers?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Its relative smallness, however, prevents the initiation of the nuclear processes that could have turned it into a full-fledged star.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Compared to his siblings, Tusche was this tiny, delicate bundle and that smallness was the very first thing that caught my heart.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Skip cosmetic pruning of conifers during the coldest part of winter and delay shaping trims for ornamental yews, junipers, boxwoods, and tree-type conifers like dwarf spruces until after the new flush of growth in spring.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Care Requirements When cultivating a dwarf apple tree indoors, choose a container with drainage holes that has a top diameter of 18 to 22 inches or a capacity of 15 to 25 gallons.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Its lightweight, metal frame is easy for one person to maneuver, and the size reflects enough light to make even your shoebox feel grand.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Expandable Checked Bag is a Travel + Leisure editor favorite, thanks to its lightweight yet durable shell.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And now a new study finds that when humans encroach on wild places, these insects may develop a special taste for human blood above all other food sources.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Another study found that cleared forest patches had created a perfect breeding environment for the insect, helping its return.—
Tom Hawking,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Judy was sort of a nonentity in these films until Annabelle Comes Home, where she was played by Mckenna Grace and given the character development of being ostracized by her classmates over her possible-grifter parents.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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Shawn is played by out actor Rafael L. Silva, but the character’s sexuality is only noted in passing, and his relationship with his boyfriend is a nonentity.—
Ashley Spencer,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nullity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nullity. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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