as in almost
very close to but not completely
it was well-nigh dark, but I could still see a little
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Recent Examples of well-nigh
At Calder Gardens, art, architecture, and horticulture achieve a well-nigh perfect equilibrium.
—
Martin Filler, The New York Review of Books, 27 Nov. 2025
The journey along the Gemini, which measured only 18 feet and five inches from bow to stern, proved to be well-nigh impossible.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
Right now, though, a coherent A.I. policy seems well-nigh inconceivable.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
In my book, Peter Seidler was a model citizen, a well-nigh heroic one.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-nigh
Adverb
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Sure, the Hurricanes beat the world when Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson coached there, but that was almost two generations ago.—
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Larssen told the Ledger-Transcript that for part of the slide, the SUV was almost t-boned until Martin, who drove the vehicle, was able to pull out.—
Adverb
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Throughout the long journey, South Park has created diehard fans who have practically memorized the entire run of the series.—
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Years of posting videos and photos of my kitchen projects have created this reflexive doppelgänger, someone practically unable to cook without the observing eye of an audience.—
Adverb
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Döpfner nearly bought the FT in 2015, before losing it to Nikkei, and took a controlling stake in Business Insider — at the top of the new media market — for $343 million.—
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There’s a close call when Dick opens the cargo door and nearly jumps out of the plane, but Leroy stops him just in time.—
Adverb
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Videos posted on social media virtually every night have shown crowds of protesters marching through the streets of various Iranian cities, chanting anti-government slogans and clashing with the country's security forces in some cases.—
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The middle class virtually disappeared.—
Cite this Entry
“Well-nigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-nigh. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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