NIGH Synonyms: 151 Similar and Opposite Words

nigh 1 of 4

adjective

Definition of nigh

as in near

not being distant in time, space, or significance the end is nigh

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nigh

2 of 4

adverb

ˈnī

as in close

at, within, or to a short distance or time have worked for them for nigh on 10 years

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in almost

very close to but not completely he has nigh completed his degree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nigh

3 of 4

preposition

as in around

close to a field nigh the church

Synonyms & Similar Words

nigh

4 of 4

verb

as in to close

to come near or nearer as the hour of his death was nighing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to approach

to move closer to as the old man was nighing his hour of death

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 nigh

Adverb

Insider betting seems nigh impossible to regulate. — Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 Assigning LRDs a smaller size sidesteps the problem of nigh inexplicably overgrown black holes but only by branding them as an unprecedented, newfound celestial species—the black hole star. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 27 May 2026

Verb

Typically, his charges have shown the classic mental strength to get over the line in awkward games—with opposition teams having to execute their game plan to nigh on perfection to prosper in most cases. — Henry Flynn, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for nigh

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nigh

Adjective

What The Numbers Tell Us The same McKinsey research sizes the global content-creation value chain at $181 billion, with the largest near-term GenAI value concentrated in pre- and post-production, together roughly half of total production spend.

— Mateo Starcevic Filipovic, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
The nearest manufacturer to Ford's recall pace is Chrysler, which has issued 19 recalls so far this year, NHTSA said.

— Keith Laing, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Definition of near

Adverb

Roberts doffed his cap in gratitude for a spirited postgame ovation from the fans here, almost all of them Dodgers fans.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
An index tracking semiconductor stocks has surged almost 88% since March, its best quarterly performance on record, according to FactSet data that goes back until to 1994.

— John Towfighi, CNN Money, 1 July 2026

Definition of almost

Preposition

The majority of these strikes happen during the summer, causing around 20 fatalities each year, according to the NWS.

— STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
There was a casual feel in Memorial Auditorium in the hour before game time, as children kicked a ball around on the auditorium’s sloping floor.

— Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of around

Verb

The decision came before Carney headed to this week’s NATO summit, where allies face pressure to back higher defense spending with concrete plans.

— Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Unlike some folding bikes – including popular models from Brompton and Birdy – which come with small 16-inch wheels, the Tetra gets 20-inchers for greater comfort over a variety of road surfaces.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 July 2026

Definition of come

Verb

With group play coming to a close and the Round of 32 approaching, the competition is heating up as teams look to punch their tickets to the knockout round in hopes of hoisting the FIFA World Cup Trophy at the final on Sunday, July 19.

— Jaclyn Hendricks, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Tracy had approached the team about a contract extension late in the 2005 season, a bold request considering the team’s record.

— Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of approach

Adverb

And unlike conventional transmissions with a finite number of gears, an eCVT can move through a practically infinite number of gear ratios over a specified range based on your preferred cadence.

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 5 July 2026
Loose dresses are a lifesaver when humidity strikes, and this midi style was practically made for tropical temperatures.

— Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026

Definition of practically

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nigh. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nigh

adjective

adverb

preposition

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on nigh

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes