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naysay

[ ney-sey ]
/ ˈneɪˌseɪ /
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See synonyms for: naysaying on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object), nay·said, nay·say·ing.
to say nay to; deny; reject; oppose.
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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
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Origin of naysay

1765–75; nay + say1, or by back formation from naysayer

Words nearby naysay

Naxos, nay, naya paisa, Nayarit, Nay Pyi Taw, naysay, naysayer, Nazarene, Nazareth, Nazarite, Nazca
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use naysay in a sentence

  • He said: Thou art as welcome as the very spring, my child; and if thou have a mind to abide here, who shall naysay thee?

    The Water of the Wondrous Isles|William Morris

  • "I won't naysay it, grandad," I answered, seeking to humour him.

    The Yeoman Adventurer|George W. Gough

  • So she put her hand on his bridle to lead him, and he followed without naysay, and the others after him.

    The Sundering Flood|William Morris
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