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Definitions

nix

[niks] / nɪks /
NOUN
none
Synonyms
STRONG
forbidding no nothing refusal sprite veto
Antonyms
STRONG
OK approval sanction

Frequently Asked Questions

What is another word for nix?
Nix is most commonly used as a verb. Close synonyms of this sense are veto, deny, reject, and refuse. Nix is usually a bit more informal than these. This sense of nix is used in the context of saying no to or rejecting ideas, plans, suggestions, proposals, etc. When someone is said to have nixed something, it typically means that they have given it a hard no. In other words, when something is nixed, it’s often denied or rejected permanently. You could also use words like quash or cancel. Relatedly, nix can be used as a noun meaning a rejection or a refusal. This is kind of like saying that something has gotten the ax.  Nix can be used as a noun meaning “nothing,” as in zero, zip, zilch, nada, nil, naught. It can also mean no, but this isn’t commonly used. Sometimes, nix is used as an interjection of warning, similar to Watch out! or Be careful!
Where does nix come from?
The word nix comes from a variant of the German word nichts, which means “nothing.” The first records of the word in English come from the late 1700s.
How do you use nix in a sentence?
Nix is a pretty informal word that’s often used in casual communication. It’s sometimes used in news headlines as a shorter way of saying reject. Here are some examples of nix in a sentence:
  • My mom nixed my plans of staying up late to watch a horror movie.
  • The board nixed the policy proposal without even taking any comments on it. 
  • At first, we were going to paint it, but we decided to nix that idea.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Police who investigated the case are clear Nix would never have been brought to justice had it not been for Bernard's courage in coming forward decades later.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Nix was no stranger to being in trouble with the law.

From BBC • May 26, 2026

But having that in the AFC West, with Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, Denver’s Bo Nix and No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza heading to Las Vegas, turning up the heat on quarterbacks is especially important.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

“Even in years three and four into the relationship, her gains are still larger than a similar woman who also dates a manager, but at a different workplace,” Nix says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

It’s bright blue and purple and says Gertrude Nix Rock Camp for Girls, with pictures of girls screaming into microphones, guitars weighing down their shoulders, drumsticks flying.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon

Vocabulary lists containing nix

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