ness

1 of 2

noun

ˈnes How to pronounce ness (audio)
Synonyms of nessnext
: cape, promontory

-ness

2 of 2

noun suffix

: state : condition : quality : degree
goodness

Synonyms of ness

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Noun

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Examples of ness in a Sentence

Noun from atop the ness, there was a beautiful view of the coastline as it stretched for miles into the distance the little skiff rounded the tip of the ness
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Noun
To bear witness to horrors visited on us by those forces at work in the world that would strip us of our humanity is perhaps the best act of human-ness open to us. — Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 Shea Whigham provides exceptional levels of Shea Whigham-ness as a friendly federal agent (and ex-client) whose health issues elicit deeper conversations than their professional obligations require. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 But there’s another way of looking at the noir-ness of Harper’s writing, one that draws on the genre’s history without using it as the basis for an essentialist definition. — Peter C. Baker, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026 Firmer than rib eye but just as rich and, frankly, more consistently well-marbled than most other cuts, it can be cooked like steak (to medium or medium-rare), or braised to full shreddy-ness. — Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ness

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English nasse, from Old English næss; akin to Old English nasu nose — more at nose

Noun suffix

Middle English -nes, from Old English; akin to Old High German -nissa -ness

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ness was before the 12th century

Rhymes for ness

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Browse Nearby Words

nesquehonite
ness
-ness
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Cite this Entry

“Ness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ness. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

-ness

noun suffix
nəs
: state : condition : quality
goodness
Etymology

Noun suffix

Old English -nes (suffix) "state, condition, quality"

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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