as in near
not being distant in time, space, or significance
the end is nigh
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in close
at, within, or to a short distance or time
have worked for them for nigh on 10 years
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in almost
very close to but not completely
he has nigh completed his degree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to close
to come near or nearer
as the hour of his death was nighing
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
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 Feb. 2023
Unfortunately, Divine is no longer around to star in Liarmouth, but someone call Ricki Lake — the time for a return to the Waters-ain is nigh.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2022
Henry Flynn, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for nigh
Adverb
With Hillman Grad’s myriad successes, the time to begin having these conversations is nigh.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 3 Feb. 2023
Unfortunately, Divine is no longer around to star in Liarmouth, but someone call Ricki Lake — the time for a return to the Waters-ain is nigh.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2022
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
-
Expect to hear more news about Rodgers in the near future.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
-
Meanwhile, artists like Doja Cat, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, Miley Cyrus and A$AP Rocky are all expected to drop albums in the near future.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
Adverb
-
Step closer, and the source comes into view: squat metal buildings that look like shipping containers arrayed in a semicircle, thrumming with fans and processors.—
Dina Temple-Raston,
Wired News,
23 May 2025
-
Reichardt’s previous films, such as her retro Westerns Meek’s Cutoff and First Cow, have tended towards sludge and shadows, but her competition closer opens with the golden leaves of a New England fall, slightly faded to the paler golds of an Ektachrome postcard of the era.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
Adverb
-
Even department stores now are almost becoming a relic of the past.—
Katherine Turman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
-
But those outings were not as extensive as the forthcoming one, which he almost felt called to do.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
28 May 2025
Preposition
-
Best of The Bee: California changes rules around trans athletes after Trump’s threat to halt funding, via Lia Russell.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2025
-
Next year’s moonshot with four astronauts will fly around the moon but will not land.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
As the wide-ranging conversation was approaching its end, Wood seized the opportunity to offer a long-overdue apology to Handler.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
25 May 2025
-
When he was pulled over, Wali slammed on the brakes, something the officer who initially approached Wali’s vehicle noted.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2025
Adverb
-
Back in the visiting clubhouse, Roberts watched the clock tick and tick and tick, eventually to the point where keeping Kershaw in was no longer a viable option.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
-
Three seasons in, the series has remained a solid performer but its viewership has slipped, with the fantasy drama dropping out of Nielsen’s Top 10 Originals chart after the first three weeks of Season 3 while staying on the list for the entire runs the previous two seasons.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
Adverb
-
Hub Tent Simplifying campsite setup, this has an intuitive hub design that practically pops up on its own.—
Alice Bennett,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2025
-
And her combat prowess is almost non-existent, with practically no kills and half of them being by accident.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
Preposition
-
In a social media post on May 19 that included a photo of himself beside his wife of almost 50 years, Biden thanked everyone who had offered support in response to the news of his cancer.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
21 May 2025
-
The cat, perched beside Riley, was recorded gently licking the side of his canine sibling's face.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nigh. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share