14 words starting with N

• nadir noun

  the lowest point of something, such as a situation or someone’s fortunes

  The team reached its nadir when it lost ten games in a row.

  Like low point, bottom, rock bottom

• nefarious adjective

  extremely wicked, especially in a criminal way

  The detective uncovered the gang’s nefarious plan to sell fake medicine.

  Like wicked, villainous, evil

• neologism noun

  a newly invented word or expression

  “Selfie” was a neologism not long ago, but now everyone uses it.

  Like coinage, new word

• neophyte noun

  a person who is new to a subject, skill, or activity

  As a chess neophyte, I lost every game at the club during my first month.

  Like beginner, novice, newcomer

• nettle verb

  to annoy or irritate someone slightly

  His constant humming nettled everyone in the quiet library.

  Like irritate, annoy, vex

• nexus noun

  a central connection or link between several things

  Kathmandu has long been the nexus of trade between India and Tibet.

  Like connection, link, hub

• nihilism noun

  the belief that nothing has meaning or value and moral rules are baseless

  The philosophy class discussed nihilism and why many thinkers argued against it.

• noisome adjective

  having an extremely unpleasant smell; harmful or disgusting

  A noisome smell came from the drain after the garbage collectors went on holiday.

  Like foul, stinking, offensive

• nomenclature noun

  a system of names used in a particular science or field

  Biologists use a two-part Latin nomenclature to name every species.

  Like terminology, naming system

• nonentity noun

  a person or thing of no importance or influence

  He was a nonentity in the music world until one song made him famous overnight.

  Like nobody, cipher, lightweight

• nonpareil adjective

  having no equal; better than all others

  The cook’s momos were nonpareil, and people came from far away to taste them.

  Like unrivaled, peerless, matchless

• nonplussed adjective

  so surprised and confused that one does not know how to react

  The teacher was nonplussed when the whole class handed in blank sheets as a joke.

  Like baffled, bewildered, perplexed

• nostrum noun

  a quack medicine; a favorite remedy or scheme that is unlikely to work

  The salesman’s nostrum, a bottle of colored water, was said to cure every illness.

  Like panacea, quack remedy, cure-all

• nugatory adjective

  of no value or importance; having no force or effect

  The changes were nugatory and did nothing to fix the real problem.

  Like worthless, trivial, futile