1
as in trimming
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
a mother who's sad to see her little boy's curls clipped for the first time
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
the pitch clipped the batter's helmet with enough force to knock it clean off his head
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clipping
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 June 2025
From nearly 100,000 sports cards to collections of fingernail clippings, brewery coasters, oil lamps, gnomes, porcelain pigs, Elvis Presley or Princess Diana memorabilia and even taxidermy displays of tigers, the list was long.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
To maximize flowering, prune late blooming clematis hard in February by clipping vines back to the lowest set of flower buds.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for clipping
Verb
The wet clippings clump together on the mower blades and in the lawn.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 June 2025
From nearly 100,000 sports cards to collections of fingernail clippings, brewery coasters, oil lamps, gnomes, porcelain pigs, Elvis Presley or Princess Diana memorabilia and even taxidermy displays of tigers, the list was long.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
Noun
Bag up thicker icing in a variety of shades, clipping or tying the back of the piping bags to seal, then create bags of thinner icing in a variety of colors.
—Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 10 Dec. 2024
To maximize flowering, prune late blooming clematis hard in February by clipping vines back to the lowest set of flower buds.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for clipping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clipping
Verb
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But instead of stopping, Burnett tried to drive away, hitting a tow truck in the process, police said.—
Natalie Demaree,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2025
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The first season of Severance was a kettle on a flame, hitting its boiling point around Episode 7, and then just boiling over for the final three episodes.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Inside, a motor spins a horizontal four-blade paddle downward into the frozen block, shaving and whipping it into a creamy texture.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
24 July 2025
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What To Know In the coming weeks, Earth is expected to spin slightly faster than usual, shaving just over a millisecond—one-thousandth of a second—off the standard 24-hour day.—
Isabel van Brugen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Verb
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The couple can be seen having a blast as Hart took the clippers and started trimming Wilkerson's beard in various ways, eventually splitting it into three long strands.—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
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Melissa Joan Hart is showing off her impressive beard-trimming skills!—
Gil Macias,
People.com,
6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Three other Republican districts would each get a sliver of the county.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
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Why Latest Bold Deadline Rumors Make No Sense Any sliver of hope that the Braves organization had at making one final push toward a wild-card spot would be out the window.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Verb
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The group in the other vehicle surround Martinez between the two vehicles, with two people repeatedly punching her while a third person pulls her legs, taking her to the ground.—
Nathan Solis,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Dec. 2024
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According to Hallman, Forrest-Stitt responded by allegedly assaulting him, punching him in the chest, hitting his mouth, and causing injuries, including a busted lip and a painful bicep injury.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Each perspective was shaped by limited information, snippets of a life reduced to headlines.—
Ethan Bauer,
Rolling Stone,
3 Aug. 2025
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Lively and engaging animations and cartoon drawings were designed by an in-house artist team and are dotted across the website, offering educational snippets to pet parents.—
Emma Kershaw,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
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Trump splinters with Federal Society Trump and his allies are waging a war against the Federalist Society as parts of his second-term agenda are blocked by some of his own judicial nominees.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
4 June 2025
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The butterfly-open design gives quick access to tweezers for bee stings or wooden splinters, and sharp scissors for clipping trail tape or loose threads—all while staying impressively lightweight.—
Brandon Schultz,
Travel + Leisure,
17 July 2025
Noun
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To test for doneness, insert a metal cake tester or thin paring knife into the middle of a fillet to see if the fish is warmed all the way through.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
Denver Post,
16 July 2025
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Similar sorbet & French fries parings can be found at La Côte in the Fontainebleau, with a simple serve of Moët & Chandon poured at Delilah.—
Erica Wertheim Zohar,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clipping. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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