1
2
as in jails
British slang a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody the blokes at the pub traded stories of nights spent in the nick after having lifted too many pints
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in steals
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep that lorry was a piece of rubbish, I don't know why anyone would want to nick it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrests
to take or keep under one's control by authority of law a petty thief who was always getting nicked for picking the pockets of tourists outside Buckingham Palace
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 nicks
John Laghezza, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026 Edges at the perimeter of the card are observed to see if there are any nicks or marks on the back or front. —Kate Perez, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026 This dulls blades much faster and can also cause scratches and nicks. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026 His hard hat bears months of nicks and scrapes, testament to the massive transformation underway in the 25,000-square-foot former food court at the Shops at Rivercenter mall in downtown San Antonio. —Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026 This waterproof trimmer is ergonomic, rechargeable, and built with SkinSafe blades that help reduce nicks. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025 With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 The six-time All-Star is widely known for being injury-prone, so the Warriors can probably expect Butler to miss some time due to some nicks and bruises next season, at the very least. —Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026 Mora strikesout swinging, and Qualia gets Carson on a breaking ball that nicks the corner of the zone. —Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026 In the book, the protagonist Jonathan Harker nicks himself with a razor and senses Dracula’s rapt attention. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 If the surgeon accidently nicks a vein or cuts through a tumor in a way that causes a leakage of cancerous cells, the recovery mode is to undock the robot rapidly, cut the patient open, and fix the problem the old-fashioned way. —IEEE Spectrum, 5 July 2022
Noun
Up and down rosters everywhere, nicks, bruises, tears, strains and sprains continue wreaking havoc on our fantasy rosters. —John Laghezza, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026 Edges at the perimeter of the card are observed to see if there are any nicks or marks on the back or front. —Kate Perez, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026 This dulls blades much faster and can also cause scratches and nicks. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026 His hard hat bears months of nicks and scrapes, testament to the massive transformation underway in the 25,000-square-foot former food court at the Shops at Rivercenter mall in downtown San Antonio. —Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 21 Jan. 2026 This waterproof trimmer is ergonomic, rechargeable, and built with SkinSafe blades that help reduce nicks. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025 With five blades sandwiched between two moisturizing bars, this razor speeds up the entire process (no fussing around with shaving cream), nourishing dry skin and making nicks a rare occurrence. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025 The six-time All-Star is widely known for being injury-prone, so the Warriors can probably expect Butler to miss some time due to some nicks and bruises next season, at the very least. —Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
Verb
That means a ball that nicks a sliver of the plate at the front and then dives into the dirt will not be called a strike by ABS. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026 Mora strikesout swinging, and Qualia gets Carson on a breaking ball that nicks the corner of the zone. —Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026 In the book, the protagonist Jonathan Harker nicks himself with a razor and senses Dracula’s rapt attention. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 If the surgeon accidently nicks a vein or cuts through a tumor in a way that causes a leakage of cancerous cells, the recovery mode is to undock the robot rapidly, cut the patient open, and fix the problem the old-fashioned way. —IEEE Spectrum, 5 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nicks
Noun
-
The war is also threatening the world's supply of helium and aluminum, key materials used in products such as semiconductor chips, medical equipment and other everyday goods.— CBS News, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
-
In fact, there was very little that the salt air and a bag of vinegary chips couldn't fix.— Emma Clarke, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For decades, the Orange County branch of the Mexican Mafia was led by Peter Ojeda, a longtime Santa Ana gang chieftain who maintained control over the local streets and jails even after a federal racketeering conviction in 2006 left him in a prison cell three time zones away.— Sean Emery, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
-
He has been held in jails in New York and Los Angeles, and for a time in New York state prison, since his first conviction in 2020.— Karla Cote, Variety, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At a Goop-like wellness empire built on female empowerment, Alice meets her doppelganger — a shinier, breezier British import who promptly steals her promotion.— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
-
But his deeper worries so far haven’t come to pass — no one steals the books that stretch on shelves up to the ceiling, representing 17 years of work.— Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Devlin throws a punch at Stone when the chief arrests him for drunken driving.— Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 19 Apr. 2026
-
The horrid image in the news of a column of smoke rising above the city of Tehran — an abyss of darkness against the gray sky — arrests my attention.— Babak Rahimi, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Mexican Mafia, described as the largest and most powerful gang operating from inside state prisons, controls gangs throughout Southern California.— Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
-
These journalists filled space with their reviews and a host of other stories related to theater including the work of theater productions in prisons, education, and other areas.— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In season one, Coop swipes jewelry, expensive wine, designer handbags and more to pay his alimony, child support and to keep up appearances in a neighborhood where appearances are all that matter.— Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2026
-
Sure, the sequence largely swipes away hints given prior that Bowser was an absent father, but in a film where most of the characters veer toward the blandly nice, watching a dad and his son bond over their same sociopathic tendencies was the only moment that tugged at the heartstrings.— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than intercepting income at the source, a bank levy freezes and seizes funds that are already sitting in your checking or savings account.— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
-
Like any well-meaning grifter, Anna (Halle Bailey) seizes the opportunity to hop a flight to picturesque Tuscany after meeting a handsome Italian stranger with an empty villa.— Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Behind bars in state penitentiaries in Gatesville and Marlin, Mejia felt forgotten.— Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
-
The wave of prison violence is happening despite the deployment of military and police forces in several penitentiaries.— Michael Rios, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/nicks. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
