1
as in spice
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses
the barbecue sauce has a nip to it that balances out the sweetness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shred
a very small amount
I'll have just a nip of your sandwich
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness
there's a nip in the air today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shave
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
I'm just going to nip these hedges, and then I'll be done with the work outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to steal
to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep
that guy nipped my wallet from the restaurant table when I turned away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to hurry
to proceed or move quickly
I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of nip
Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Before bed, nip into Manny’s bar for a nightcap.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Darby hit a Scorpion Death Drop and nipped up to his feet.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for nip
Noun
Leclerc still can’t steer right at full speed, so Verstappen nips ahead for good measure at the final corner.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Before bed, nip into Manny’s bar for a nightcap.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
The series builds to his final French Open in 2024 when Father Time was nipping at his heels, navicular, hip, back and everything else.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Darby hit a Scorpion Death Drop and nipped up to his feet.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for nip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nip
Noun
-
Plates of chi kyufta, lean raw meat kneaded with bulgur, aromatics and spices, sit alongside enough caviar to accommodate bumps the size of golf balls for 450 guests.—
Ani Duzdabanyan,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Community Chest and Chance cards are replaced by Suriel's Truth cards and Book of Breathings cards, some of which retain the humor and spice of the beloved series.—
Kirsten Acuna,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s appreciation for and emulation of the histrionics of that sport have been much discussed over the years—recall how the late Hulk Hogan ripped his shirt to shreds at the 2024 Republican National Convention to reveal a TRUMP VANCE T-shirt underneath.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
-
The industry has been keeping a close eye on what Koosha and his producer Tom Rogers have been doing — namely, conjuring a movie out of thin air without a single shred of an actor, location, crew member or camera.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
The batches were distilled between January 2015 and April 2016, the whiskey was aged for a full decade in char #4 barrels with char #3 heads, and it was bottled at 102 proof without chill filtration.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
13 June 2026
-
For example, North Georgia typically receives 750 to 900 chill hours, while South Georgia receives fewer than 600, making variety selection critical for reliable fruit production, Kirk-Ballard says.—
Rae Ford,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
The glass caught the light first, then the lemon oil lifted before the first sip.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
-
Kyle giving Lindsay a piggyback while also trying to take a sip of Loverboy is why these two will always be famous.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The researchers estimated that those who got neither bright days nor dark nights were shaving five years off their lives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
-
Shop around and compare offers from at least three lenders, as doing so can shave close to a full percentage point off your rate, and be sure to talk to lenders directly about terms and costs that may not appear online.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
The families pinch and pennies to send their first child to college.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
The rope around my left thigh pinched and clawed at the butterflies inked on my skin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Bald eagle are also known to scavenge for food and carrion, even stealing from other hunting birds mid-flight.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
The show was canceled that year, after Mencia was accused of stealing material from other comedians.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
But hurry, these deals won’t last forever, and certain sizes and colors are already selling out.—
Shea Simmons,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
-
Congo said the contact tracing coverage rate is 56%, a sharp decrease from last week, as authorities hurry to find people who may have been exposed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
Video
'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?
We're gonna stop you right there
Cite this Entry
“Nip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nip. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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