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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nip
A.o. Scott, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The program is designed to help cities and towns provide for collection and proper disposal of nips and to prevent littering.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Bruce Handy, Vulture, 20 May 2025
Some of those gardeners at the sale may begin their patchwork right after Mother’s Day, but that plan can backfire when a cold front moves in, like what is happening this week, and frost can nip those fragile young seedlings.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nip
Noun
And bought a morning paper, which neither of us read;
John Cameron Mitchell, actor
Exhaustion nips at the heels of delight; the ferries and subways never stop running.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The program is designed to help cities and towns provide for collection and proper disposal of nips and to prevent littering.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
By the time Eclipse was published in August 2007, the series had acquired an obsessive fandom big enough to nip at the heels of those devoted to Harry Potter or Star Wars.
—Bruce Handy, Vulture, 20 May 2025
Some of those gardeners at the sale may begin their patchwork right after Mother’s Day, but that plan can backfire when a cold front moves in, like what is happening this week, and frost can nip those fragile young seedlings.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nip
Verb
-
Courtney's husband surprises their daughter after shaving his beard off.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
-
On those three days, just over a millisecond is expected to be shaved off the standard 24-hour day.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Panic can result if the loss pinches your finances.—
Catherine Brock,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
My toes were pinched by crabs approximately thirty times.—
David Litt
June 25,
Literary Hub,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
This attack works through thousands of dangerous websites, stealing credit card or PayPal details as soon as they’re entered.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
The case filed in Georgia charges four North Korean IT workers with stealing virtual currency worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from their employers.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Gladys told her mother to hurry up and prepare dinner before 6 p.m., when the whole family usually sat down together.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
-
If Tehran now hurries to make atomic bombs in secret — and if other countries in the region then build their own nukes for self-protection — the tactical triumph of Midnight Hammer will turn into a strategic disaster.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
28 June 2025
Verb
-
The chances the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 50 basis points in December are growing, according to Oxford Economics.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
9 July 2025
-
Both headphones are astonishingly quiet, virtually eliminating lower drone sounds, cutting higher frequency noises like key clicks, and even erasing piercing sounds like dogs barking with a bit of music.—
Ryan Waniata,
Wired News,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
But what if this isn’t a fight to win, but a lesson in learning how to hold your center amidst chaos?—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
-
The central bank will hold four rate-setting meetings over the remainder of 2025 – and the first will happen on July 29 and 30.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Now, though, Tinder cofounder Justin Mateen swiped right on the property, purchasing it alongside his brother Tyler and Culver Capital for $82.2 million.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
9 July 2025
-
These tiny Android-style slabs can be swiped up for battery info and swiped left or right to navigate the screens.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
The priest survived, but had to be rushed to the hospital to have shrapnel from the bomb removed from his body.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
-
Pascual suffered a massive head injury and was rushed to Maimonides Medical Center where he was put on life support.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
6 July 2025
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 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share