1
as in null
having no legal or binding force
the congressional resolution has symbolic value only, as it relates to a matter governed by the states and is thus nugatory
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
lacking importance
the book is entertaining, but its contributions to Shakespearean scholarship are nugatory
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of nugatory
Women directors abound in the S&S list: Two Akermans, two Agnès Vardas (none by her husband Jacques Demy, a superior artist), a nugatory Jane Campion soap opera, Vera Chitilová’s obscure Czech feminist screed, etc.
—
Armond White, National Review, 7 Dec. 2022
But the benefits to Russia longer term could be nugatory.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 4 Mar. 2022
It could be used to rationalize stealing the pennies from a dead man’s eyes, true, even considering the nugatory value of the contemporary penny.
—Marilynne Robinson, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2020
Yet all of these questions seem, increasingly, merely nostalgic, nugatory, in the face of the dissolution of the common solidarity of principles that had once made the liberation happen.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 6 June 2019
Armond White, National Review, 7 Dec. 2022
But the benefits to Russia longer term could be nugatory.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Week, 4 Mar. 2022
It could be used to rationalize stealing the pennies from a dead man’s eyes, true, even considering the nugatory value of the contemporary penny.
—Marilynne Robinson, The New York Review of Books, 27 May 2020
Yet all of these questions seem, increasingly, merely nostalgic, nugatory, in the face of the dissolution of the common solidarity of principles that had once made the liberation happen.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 6 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nugatory
Adjective
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Null and Void The first major point of controversy involves something called the null energy condition, under which—among other things—energy can’t propagate faster than light.—
Lyndie Chiou,
Scientific American,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s team also provided information that could render these accusations null.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Troopers said the two boys were hospitalized with minor injuries.—
Olivia Lloyd,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2025
-
In total, 27 people were taken to the hospital, including two with serious injuries, and 20 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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The company has also said no federal regulatory agency has ever told it the credits are invalid.—
Jonathan Shorman,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2025
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The board oversees virtually every aspect of state elections, large and small, from setting rules dictating what makes ballots valid or invalid to monitoring compliance with campaign finance laws.—
Doug Bock Clark,
ProPublica,
16 May 2025
Adjective
-
Pay Attention to Heavy Metals Some chocolate contains small amounts of cadmium and lead—and dark chocolate tends to be the bigger offender.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
26 May 2025
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The second season of HBO's zombie smash ends with battles both big and small, a major death, and a time rewind.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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Assuming Schoen continues his practice of not adding void years, the Giants could create $15.7 million in cap space with a max restructure of Burns’ contract, which runs through 2028.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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Their current rotation is Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Cade Povich, Sugano, and the void Gibson left behind.—
Daniel R. Epstein,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
In Madrid, little is known about Bellingham’s social life.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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That is why the reappraisal of Biden’s physical and mental abilities while in office has so far done little to reassure the public.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Life seems almost worthless in this world, as the lack of interest two federal police officers show in the dead body establishes why Marcelo can’t go to the authorities for help.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
18 May 2025
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The answer is that American assurances are worthless.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Injuries can range from a slight stretching of the ligament to a complete tear, where the knee becomes unstable.—
Paul McClure
May 31,
New Atlas,
31 May 2025
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By virtue of no state income tax, Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas, Dallas and Nashville do enjoy a slight competitive advantage, but the first 14 Cup champions of the cap era didn’t share that same edge.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nugatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nugatory. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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