nil

noun

ˈnil How to pronounce nil (audio)
Definition of nilnext
as in zero
the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it the difference in the audio performance of those two CD players is nil

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 nil That's the final whistle and the game is over at nil-nil! — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 27 June 2026 Neither hit, however, so the score midway through remained nil-nil. — Jeff Rosen, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026 Cruz Azul fans hope their team can do what Tigres UANL did to FC Cincinnati in the Round of 16 and pull off a frantic 5-1 comeback after falling behind 3-nil. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 13 Apr. 2026 The United Kingdom judges gave ABBA nil points at Eurovision, a rating some viewers (and ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus) think was an attempt at sabotage. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nil
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nil
  1. zero
  2. nothing
Noun
  • Tech has crept into every facet of everyday life, like an invisible fog of ones and zeros.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Those sizes vary from size four all the way down to zero, but even the zeros weren’t small enough.
    — Marti Noxon, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of zero
Noun
  • While CinemaCon 2026 brought us exciting news about new films, it was also bogged down with status quo nothings about how Amazon MGM still hasn’t found a new James Bond.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
  • When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Definition of nothing

Browse Nearby Words

nihilists
nil
nils
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nil.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nil. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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