nice
10 synonyms and 15 antonyms for nice, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Pleasant, agreeable, or satisfactory.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use nice
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French nice ("foolish, simple"), from Latin nescius ("ignorant"). The word originally meant "foolish" in English and has drifted through senses like "fussy" and "precise" to today's meaning of "pleasant" — one of the biggest meaning-flips in the English language.
Full origin of nice →Frequently asked questions
What does “nice” mean?
The word “nice” means pleasant, agreeable, or satisfactory. In plain terms, a general-purpose word for something pleasant, agreeable, or a person who is kind.
How do you pronounce “nice”?
“Nice” is pronounced NYS (/ˈnaɪ̯s/ in IPA).
How do you use “nice” in a sentence?
Here is “nice” used in a sentence: “We had a really nice evening at the restaurant.”
What is another word for “nice”?
Words with a similar meaning to “nice” include delightful, friendly, kind, lovely, pleasant and sweet.
What is the opposite of “nice”?
The opposite of “nice” — its antonyms — are horrible, horrid, nasty, awful and disgusting.
What part of speech is “nice”?
Depending on how it is used, “nice” can be an adjective and an adverb.
Where does the word “nice” come from?
The word “nice” comes from Latin.
Is “nice” a common word?
“Nice” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between nice and kind?
'Nice' means pleasant or agreeable, describing how someone or something comes across on the surface. 'Kind' goes deeper, describing genuine care shown through generous, considerate actions. A person can be nice, meaning polite and pleasant, without being truly kind, and someone kind is usually nice as well.
Is 'nice' a strong compliment?
Not especially. 'Nice' is mild and general, so it can sometimes feel like faint praise. Calling a meal or an essay 'nice' suggests it was fine rather than outstanding. For stronger approval, words like 'wonderful,' 'excellent,' or 'delightful' carry far more warmth and enthusiasm.
What is the opposite of nice?
The usual opposites are 'nasty,' 'unpleasant,' and 'horrible,' all describing something disagreeable. For people, 'mean' or 'unkind' work as opposites when 'nice' means friendly. The right choice depends on the sense: an unpleasant experience versus an unkind person.
Did 'nice' always mean pleasant?
No, its meaning has shifted remarkably. It came from a Latin word meaning 'ignorant,' and in early English 'nice' meant foolish or silly. Over centuries it passed through senses like 'precise' and 'refined' before settling, fairly recently, into today's easygoing meaning of pleasant or agreeable.