nay Definition
used to introduce a further and stronger or more surprising point and sometimes to indicate that there is a contradiction or difference with what has been said before.
Using nay: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "nay" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
I don't like coffee, nay, I hate it.
Example
He is not just a good singer, nay, he is a great performer.
Example
The movie was not boring, nay, it was fascinating.
nay Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for nay
- no
- not at all
- absolutely not
Phrases with nay
Example
The committee members voted on the proposal with a simple yea or nay.
nay-sayer
a person who habitually expresses negative or pessimistic views
Example
Don't listen to him, he's just a nay-sayer who always sees the glass as half empty.
Example
The nay votes outnumbered the yea votes, so the proposal was rejected.
Origins of nay
from Old Norse 'nei', meaning 'no'
Summary: nay in Brief
The adverb 'nay' [neษช] is used to introduce a stronger or more surprising point, often contradicting what has been said before. It can be used to express disagreement or to emphasize a point, as in 'He is not just a good singer, nay, he is a great performer.' The phrase 'yea or nay' refers to expressing agreement or disagreement with a proposal, while a 'nay-sayer' is someone who habitually expresses negative views.
