as in indeed
not merely this but also
I was angry—nay, furious—at the way they were treating that poor dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
as in refusal
an unwillingness to grant something asked for
gave a resounding nay to the request for a mixed-company camping trip
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 nay
Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012
So, coming live from my Van Down By the River, Old Prospector's pickaxe in my right hand, Cowbell in my left, Opera Man wig on my head, El Nino thundering away above it, here are the eight footballers who could, nay should, host SNL.
—SI.com, 9 Oct. 2019
Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Still, Democrats divisions are much more widespread than a yay-or-nay vote on a spending bill.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nay
Adverb
And journalists who actually do their jobs are nay-saying trouble-makers who have the temerity to not rely on press releases.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012
So, coming live from my Van Down By the River, Old Prospector's pickaxe in my right hand, Cowbell in my left, Opera Man wig on my head, El Nino thundering away above it, here are the eight footballers who could, nay should, host SNL.
—SI.com, 9 Oct. 2019
Noun
Much of what ensues takes place at the boss’s preposterously grandiose lodge — nay, castlelike fortress — tucked in wilderness and protected by armed guards.
—Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Still, Democrats divisions are much more widespread than a yay-or-nay vote on a spending bill.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nay
Adverb
-
And then you were born in a place, unlike so many places today (and indeed all countries even a century or two ago), where medicine and care enabled you to live into adulthood.—
Simon Boas
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
-
It must be acknowledged that this issue is indeed tricky.—
,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
While Littleton has tabled its rezoning ordinance indefinitely, that doesn’t mean residents are a hard no for any type of effort to bolster density in the city.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2025
-
According to a new Microsoft security advisory update, the answer to the last of these questions is a resounding no.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The problem with this type of refusal is that a cat-and-mouse gambit is likely to ensue.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
-
Since they are restricted free agents, their 2024-25 teams have right of first refusal, meaning if Grimes, for example, signed an offer sheet with another franchise, the Sixers could match it to bring him back for the same price.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
Adverb
-
The heat was certainly a factor for the audience, which brought handheld folding fans and tried to stay hydrated in the near 100-degree temperatures.—
Courtney Devores,
Charlotte Observer,
28 July 2025
-
Russia is certainly a threat to the United States and its European allies in NATO — but European nations can and should take the lead for the conventional defense of Europe, given that their population is five times and their economy is 10 times that of Russia.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
Keanu used his power to allow a former houseguest to come in and play the Power of Veto competition in his place; Kelley used hers to compete in an additional veto competition.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
-
Masterson, an Andover Republican, has defined himself in opposition to Gov. Laura Kelly over the last four years, enacting legislation despite the Democratic governor’s vetoes and working to minimize her role in critical activities, such as shaping the state budget.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
21 July 2025
Noun
-
Still on a minutes limit, Brink played 12 minutes, registering two steals and three blocks, including a monster rejection on the All-Star Williams in the fourth quarter.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The protesters gathered in response to the Senate's rejection of two resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an Independent, to block an arms deal to Israel.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Advocates for such measures can surely argue that the removal of frictional barriers is beneficial to enabling capital flows among risk takers, perhaps raising the economy’s metabolism.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
26 July 2025
-
One aid in the human desire to be smart about money will surely be longtime wealth management and trust expert Mark Shupe’s new book, The Moneyball Method: A Middle-Class Manifesto for Objective Investing.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
-
The denial cited documentation that the nickname was used to refer to New York decades before Batman was created.—
Scott Soshnick,
Sportico.com,
24 July 2025
-
Judge Robin Rosenberg, in her denial of that petition, said that an unrelated ruling in 2020 by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that a district court does not have the power to unseal grand jury records in instances not covered by the criminal procedure rule.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nay. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share