as in bite
a small piece or quantity of food
I don't want a whole dessert, so can I just have a nibble of yours?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
2
as in to chew
to crush or grind with the teeth
nibbling crackers
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to eat
to consume or wear away gradually
discovered that inflation had steadily nibbled their savings
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 nibble
The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Pests, particularly moths and silverfish, lay eggs and nibble on the natural fibers of cashmere.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Our fellow guests were all seated at garden tables, nibbling sandwiches cut into little triangles and sipping from fancy teacups.
—Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nibble
Noun
Easy snacks and nibbles that are comfortable, elegant and, yes, perfectly matched to a cocktail, martini or otherwise.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Pests, particularly moths and silverfish, lay eggs and nibble on the natural fibers of cashmere.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
When transplanting time arrives, move cabbage plants under row covers immediately so that cabbage loopers and other pests never get a chance to nibble on their leaves.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026
Our fellow guests were all seated at garden tables, nibbling sandwiches cut into little triangles and sipping from fancy teacups.
—Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nibble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nibble
Noun
-
The four-piece set—a loveseat, two chairs, and a matching table—comfortably seats up to four, providing a perfect spot for small bites and drinks.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Wisconsin Watch is a member of the Gigafact program, newsrooms across the US that deliver bite-sized fact checks of trending claims.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Customer Daniela Climaco, a behavioral analyst for children with autism, said Lot’s A Matzah has become the go-to snack for her kids, ages 3 and 6.—
Lois K. Solomon,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Pair your brew with a meal or snack to slow caffeine absorption and blunt blood sugar spikes.—
Kathleen Ferraro,
Verywell Health,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Stump grinders are large, specialized equipment with rotating teeth that chew the stump to below ground level.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
-
The group ate pickles together (Burd, who hates pickles, put one in his mouth but couldn’t chew it and spit it out).—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Queens, check out the art at MoMA PS1 or spend an afternoon eating your way through Astoria or Flushing, known for standout Greek and Chinese cuisine, respectively.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Many studies suggest that eating breakfast earlier may help regulate blood sugar.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The possibility of a Chase and Taylor flirtation causing a rift with Miranda is briefly raised and just as swiftly quashed — through large mouthfuls of chips and salsa, Taylor assures Miranda at the sip-and-see that there is no there there.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Any notion that the Broncos were scraping by was met with a mouthful of bristles from Sean Payton.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The lead stretched to 12 early in the third quarter, but slowly and painfully for Parker, the hosts, with Archer attacking the glass, kept pecking away.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The muscular gizzard contains grit pecked up from the chicken’s ground feeding, which is used to crush up the chicken’s food.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
China approved a new set of ethnicity laws that critics say risks further eroding the rights of minorities.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The union representing federal screeners argues that moving operations to private companies could erode job protections and reduce pay and benefits for workers already facing high turnover amid demanding conditions.—
Rio Yamat,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Your taste in nature can be as specific and particular as your coffee order.—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
10 Mar. 2026
-
That just gives you a taste of his mentality.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nibble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nibble. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
