1
2
as in refusals
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 nays
With Cornyn not on the floor, the vote for more than 25 minutes was stuck at 56 ayes and 40 nays, with three other GOP senators, Rick Scott of Florida, Wisconsin’s Ron Johnson and Mike Lee of Utah, not voting, for unclear reasons.
—
Emily Wilkins,dan Mangan, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the decision following an endorsement from the Chamber of Deputies and a Senate vote that saw 76 ayes, five nays and 35 abstentions.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Emily Wilkins,dan Mangan, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced the decision following an endorsement from the Chamber of Deputies and a Senate vote that saw 76 ayes, five nays and 35 abstentions.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nays
Noun
-
The list of noes from top free agents since then is not insignificant.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The winningest teams lose and Hollywood, there's so many nos.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
French President Emmanuel Macron blasted tech company executives of social media platforms over refusals to limit or restrict speech.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Conversation starters → Guy Fieri, a chef famous for trying everything, has revealed a few firm food refusals.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the 2025 legislative elections, La Libertad Avanza, in alliance with the right-wing Republican Proposal, or PRO, party, consolidated its position as the largest bloc in both chambers and secured the one-third needed to uphold presidential vetoes in Congress.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Hobbs, a Democrat who broke the record for vetoes signed last year, is unlikely to sign these bills.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gnecco said getting rejections from potential partners and having a business concept that everyone may not understand doesn’t make life as a company executive easy.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Despite the rejections, their shorts eventually got recognition, which led to bigger gigs.—
William Earl,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The hosts also talk about Prasad’s second exit from the FDA and a congressman’s probing of the agency’s rare disease drug denials.—
Adam Feuerstein,
STAT,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Rosanna Arquette, who told The New Yorker in 2017 that Weinstein assaulted her at a hotel in the early 1990s, slammed the mogul’s ongoing denials in a statement posted to Instagram on Thursday.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nays.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nays. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
