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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of nip
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2026
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
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
30 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for nip
Noun
Nashville was a drink all night, crash into bed, then take a nip of the hair-of-the-dog-that-bit-you in the morning kind of place.
—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2026
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
Verb
Of course, Qualcomm is also at Computex, and its Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme could well be nipping at the N1X's heels before long.
—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
30 May 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for nip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nip
Noun
-
Peppers followed, along with a healthy sprinkling of spices.
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Leveraging years of experience developed at Brunello Cucinelli and Prada, the designer used a beautiful palette of colors, the hues reflecting the spices of each location, from nutmeg and cardamom to ginger, cinnamon and vanilla, and those of the Mediterranean Sea.
Noun
-
The rest of the band followed his lead, particularly Green, a relentless head-banger, dropping to her knees to become one with the feedback and leaning back into beatific shred-faces.
-
There's one day left of food in the fridge, a flood in the basement, a hole in the ceiling and a group of people who are clinging to the last shreds of hope for the future.
Noun
-
The chills, along with some sudden nausea, were so strong that my mom and I left the Greek Theatre early.
-
In the summer, the weather is typically golf-perfect with mild temperatures and chill breezes as the day moves on.
Noun
-
The WanderFull HydroBag offers a stylish, hands-free way to keep your heavy Stanley tumbler or Owala bottle ready for sips during trips and treks.
-
C-suite execs come for a digital detox, chic couples spoil themselves at the spa, and affluent families from Macau sip cocktails by the pool.
Verb
-
Zillow says that a pale pink bathroom could lose you up to $6,013, while a pale pink kitchen shaves an extra $4,201 off potential buyers' offers.
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The Supreme Court ruled that a Louisiana prisoner whose dreadlocks were forcibly shaved off by prison guards cannot sue them under a federal law designed to protect the religious rights of prisoners.
Verb
-
This is one of the best times to refresh your bra and underwear drawer without paying full price — especially if your current ones poke, pinch, slide around, or have completely lost their shape.
-
To deadhead, simply pinch off the faded flower, along with the seed pod below.
Verb
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The News, The Times and affiliated outlets in Tribune Publishing and MediaNews Group, along with other outlets, are suing OpenAI for allegedly stealing the work of journalists.
-
In the video, the man and woman can be seen alleging the family stole their money and emphasizing they aren't wanted in the community.
Verb
-
But hurry—some of our favorites are already selling out!
-
But hurry, sizes are selling out quickly on Madewell.
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 29 Jun. 2026.
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