nippy

adjective

nip·​py ˈni-pē How to pronounce nippy (audio)
nippier; nippiest
1
: marked by a tendency to nip
a nippy dog
2
: brisk, quick, or nimble in movement : snappy
a nippy boat
nippy tennis players
3
: pungent, sharp
A mixed salad and a nippy potato salad.Caryl Stern
4
: chilly
a nippy day
nippy breeze
nippily adverb
nippiness noun

Examples of nippy in a Sentence

bring a jacket, as it's a little nippy outside blue cheese is a little too nippy for my taste
Recent Examples on the Web Either way, this is a perfect film to enjoy (with friends) during a nippy October night. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 3 Oct. 2023 Despite the nippy temperatures, some fans camped outside as early as 5 A.M., waiting to get inside the venue. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 1 Feb. 2024 Some of Mexico's best waves pound the breezy Baja Peninsula, but waters are quite nippy here in the winter months. Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2023 Recall that President George W. Bush's nippy Scottish terrier Barney used to star in an annual Christmas video. Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2022 What's best about the Perseids is that they can be enjoyed during summer's warmth, unlike the often nippy nights during the Leonids of November or Geminids of December. Carlie Procell, USA TODAY, 8 Aug. 2023 Dubbed the Glacier Trail, the new high-performance kicks can be worn in the arctic tundra, the nippy streets of the Big Apple, and beyond. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 July 2023 Think: a breezy pleated skirt with built in athletic shorts, a polo dress with pockets for holding tennis balls, and a cropped topper for match days on extra nippy mornings. Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, 13 June 2023 Confidence: Medium-High Another nippy start Monday. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nippy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nippy was in 1575

Dictionary Entries Near nippy

Cite this Entry

“Nippy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nippy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nippy

adjective
nip·​py ˈnip-ē How to pronounce nippy (audio)
nippier; nippiest
1
: quick in movement : nimble, brisk
2
: having a biting flavor
3

More from Merriam-Webster on nippy

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