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zilch

noun

ˈzilch How to pronounce zilch (audio)
Definition of zilchnext
1
as in nobody
a person of no importance or influence a passive and retiring little zilch of a person

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nothing
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it the amount of money that we have coming in right now is zilch

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 zilch The women earned as little as $25 per game—or frequently zilch. — Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026 Reviews have been mixed, with some critics embracing Gyllenhaal’s bold vision and others dismissing it as a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying zilch. — Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026 Once all the air pollution goes to zilch in half an hour, the Airmega automatically switches into eco mode. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Feb. 2026 At zero or zip or zilch charge. — Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026 The Bengals, meanwhile, have zip-zilch-nada defensively other than Trey Hendrickson, who might not play on a short week with a bad back/hip. — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zilch
  1. nobody
  2. nothing
  3. cipher
  4. zero
  5. dwarf
  6. lightweight
  7. insect
Noun
  • In the trailer, the civilians are selling themselves as a new breed of nobodies.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Noun
  • While CinemaCon 2026 brought us exciting news about new films, it was also bogged down with status quo nothings about how Amazon MGM still hasn’t found a new James Bond.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
  • When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Definition of nothing
Noun
  • There’s that vibrancy and, on the other side of the ledger, dead boys, ciphers, unfinished or unfinishable quests.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
Definition of cipher
Noun
  • Within a certain interval, the zeros appear to all lie on a straight line.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Underwood sailed his first Hail Mary attempt out of the back of the end zone, and despite the clock appearing to hit triple zeros to end the game, officials added one second back onto the clock after a review, which led to Underwood's heroics.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of zero
Noun
  • This led to the observation of 47 dwarf galaxies, of which only four had previously been discovered.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Consider growing a dwarf variety like Citrus japonica ‘Nagami’ that’s suitable for indoor growing.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • The terry cloth also hits that sweet spot between lightweight and substantial, which is especially ideal for transitional weather.
    — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Suddenly, the breezy slips, casual flip-flops, and lightweight separates of summer no longer fit into fall’s busy daily routine.
    — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of lightweight
Noun
  • The shoes presented by the designer in Tuesday’s show, which closed out New York Fashion Week, were quirkily insect-inspired.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Higher temperatures speed up insect activity and dry up natural water and nectar sources.
    — Nick Perry, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of insect

Browse Nearby Words

zigzags
zilch
zilches
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Cite this Entry

“Zilch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zilch. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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