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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.

Will he bow to US pressure to nix a project to link China and Chile across the Pacific via an undersea fiber optic cable?

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Think of travel insurance in two parts: There’s trip-cancellation insurance, which, as the name implies, offers protection in case you need to nix a trip before the fact — say, for medical reasons.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

Within a day of the failed rule vote, the House voted to nix Trump’s Canada tariffs.

From Slate • Feb. 14, 2026

On Dec. 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s powerful vaccine advisory panel voted to nix the decades-old birth-dose recommendation.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2025

The Latin for snowflake is nix, almost the same as the German for nothing.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.