Antonyms for nicer

Grammar : Adj

Spell : nahys

Phonetic Transcription : naɪs

Definition of nicer

Origin : late 13c., "foolish, stupid, senseless," from Old French nice (12c.) "careless, clumsy; weak; poor, needy; simple, stupid, silly, foolish," from Latin nescius "ignorant, unaware," literally "not-knowing," from ne- "not" (see un-) + stem of scire "to know" (see science). "The sense development has been extraordinary, even for an adj." [Weekley] -- from "timid" (pre-1300); to "fussy, fastidious" (late 14c.); to "dainty, delicate" (c.1400); to "precise, careful" (1500s, preserved in such terms as a nice distinction and nice and early); to "agreeable, delightful" (1769); to "kind, thoughtful" (1830).
"In many examples from the 16th and 17th centuries it is difficult to say in what particular sense the writer intended it to be taken." [OED]
By 1926, it was pronounced "too great a favorite with the ladies, who have charmed out of it all its individuality and converted it into a mere diffuser of vague and mild agreeableness." [Fowler]
"I am sure," cried Catherine, "I did not mean to say anything wrong; but it is a nice book, and why should I not call it so?""Very true," said Henry, "and this is a very nice day, and we are taking a very nice walk; and you are two very nice young ladies. Oh! It is a very nice word indeed! It does for everything." [Jane Austen, "Northanger Abbey," 1803]

adj likable, agreeable
adj precise, neat, refined

Example sentences :

She had a belief that her father's house was nicer than other people's houses.
Extract from : « Life and Death of Harriett Frean » by May Sinclair

I don't know which was nicer, Jessica, Nora's wedding or yours.
Extract from : « Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus » by Jessie Graham Flower

He thought it would be nicer to go to the copse, and so they moved on up the lane.
Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine

Nothing makes a nicer tourte in this way than large soles, taking off the flesh from the backbone, without the side fins.
Extract from : « The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, » by Mary Eaton

No, Hosy, she's nicer to us than she was at first because it's her nature to be nice.
Extract from : « Kent Knowles: Quahaug » by Joseph C. Lincoln

Well, you see, it's nicer here by the river, and it's cheaper too; and—how's aunt Kate?
Extract from : « Audrey Craven » by May Sinclair

Because we think pretty and clean is nicer than ugly and dirty!
Extract from : « Boys and Girls Bookshelf (Vol 2 of 17) » by Various

Even your tea is nicer, it is more fragrant than any one else's.
Extract from : « Lord Kilgobbin » by Charles Lever

Of course it is nicer if you go; though I wouldn't take you if you don't like it.
Extract from : « Is He Popenjoy? » by Anthony Trollope

What could be keener or nobler or nicer than Linacre's judgement?
Extract from : « Erasmus and the Age of Reformation » by Johan Huizinga

Synonyms for nicer

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019