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
SI.com, 9 Oct. 2019
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
Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
All this despite the nay-saying of classic-car purists.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nay
Adverb
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
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
Noun
Vice Mayor Cesar Zepeda, the other nay vote, suggested the council adopt changes to the agreed upon issues while the members who proposed the item, Wilson and Jimenez, work through sticking points on the body camera footage with the chief.
—Sierra Lopez, Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2025
All this despite the nay-saying of classic-car purists.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nay
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nay
Adverb
-
As the two bond in short order, our previously flailing hero shapes up very quickly indeed, soon shedding his substance abuse problems and entering a healthy relationship with dreamy social worker Oscar (Diego Calva).—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
If this is indeed corrected by the league, Clark would have only the sixth 30-point, 10-assist game in WNBA history.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
There's no, 'Hey, run back to the helo.—
David Hookstead OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
-
There's a strict no-dogs, no-alcohol policy, and visitors should be aware that the parking lot fills early on summer weekends.—
Patricia Doherty,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Da Vinci won with the track at the Sanremo Music Festival earlier this year, giving him the right of first refusal to represent Italy at Eurovision.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
That opacity serves a clear purpose, but Martelli is enamored by it to a fault, and Inés’ refusal to question the people around her or make any significant decisions beyond keeping her mouth shut eventually proves more trying than helpful.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
Sadly, the project is almost certainly a fantasy.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Shareef Elaydi certainly falls into that top-end category.—
Glenn Reeves,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The European Union’s foreign ministers agreed Monday to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers over violence against Palestinians after Hungary’s new government lifted the country’s veto.—
Beatriz Ríos,
Washington Post,
11 May 2026
-
The most ambitious legislative attempt at curbing presidential war-making was the War Powers Resolution of 1973, passed by Congress over a veto by President Richard Nixon.—
James Cramer,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Florida Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin may not have realized it in December, but losing Lane Kiffin to LSU could eventually look less like a rejection and more like a fortunate escape.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 May 2026
-
Not as punishment or as a rejection of the technology, but as a deliberate change of pace.—
Illia Smoliienko,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
The Structured Reality category will surely once again feature Queer Eye and Shark Tank, which have dominated this category for the last 12 years.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
-
From a scientific perspective, an interest in raccoon reproductive anatomy is surely not without merit.—
Sam Zeveloff,
STAT,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
The truth likely lies between official denial and worst-case projections.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
Specifically, the Pentagon is worried about the huge distances involved in the Pacific, and near-peer defensive capabilities like anti-access/area denial should a conflict erupt.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nay. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
