14 words starting with N

• naive adjective

  lacking experience and too ready to believe or trust

  It was naive of him to think the hike would take only an hour.

  Like innocent, gullible, inexperienced

• narcissism noun

  too much interest in and admiration of yourself

  His constant selfies and boasting seemed like narcissism.

  Like vanity, self-love, conceit

• nascent adjective

  just beginning to develop

  The town’s nascent recycling program has only a few bins so far, but it is growing.

  Like emerging, budding, developing

• nebulous adjective

  unclear, vague or not well defined

  His plans for the holidays were still nebulous.

  Like vague, hazy, unclear

• negligent adjective

  failing to take proper care

  The negligent driver did not check his brakes before the trip.

  Like careless, neglectful, irresponsible

• negligible adjective

  so small that it does not matter

  The difference in price between the two notebooks is negligible.

  Like insignificant, trivial, minor

• nonchalant adjective

  calm and seeming not to care or worry

  He gave a nonchalant shrug, as if winning the race were nothing special.

  Like casual, relaxed, unconcerned

• nostalgia noun

  a fond longing for a happy time in the past

  Old school photos filled my parents with nostalgia.

  Like longing, wistfulness, reminiscence

• nostalgic adjective

  feeling a fond longing for the past

  The smell of sel roti makes me nostalgic for Tihar at my grandmother’s house.

  Like wistful, sentimental, longing

• notorious adjective

  famous for something bad

  The pass is notorious for sudden snowstorms.

  Like infamous, disreputable

• noxious adjective

  harmful or poisonous, especially to breathe

  The factory released noxious fumes into the air.

  Like toxic, poisonous, harmful

• nuance noun

  a very small difference in meaning, color or feeling

  A good translator notices every nuance of the original text.

  Like subtlety, shade, distinction

• nullify verb

  to cancel the effect or legal force of something

  One foul nullified the team’s winning goal.

  Like cancel, invalidate, undo

• nurture verb

  to care for and help someone or something grow and develop

  Good teachers nurture their students’ curiosity.

  Like foster, raise, cultivate