1
as in snacking
to eat reluctantly and in small bites
having no real appetite at all, I just nibbled during the party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chewing
to crush or grind with the teeth
nibbling crackers
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in eroding
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 nibbling
Deer And Rabbit Damage Deer have a frustrating habit of nibbling the flowers off of hydrangeas.
—
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
To avoid your dog nibbling on dangerous plants altogether, take the following steps.
—Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Eight neighbors, including Pugliese, sit around the coffee table sipping wine and nibbling on cheese cubes and fish dip, a black cat named Aura circling their ankles.
—Jessica Blough, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The brand management companies — which scoop up intellectual property and work with partners who make and distribute the goods — were already doing more than nibbling around the edges.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Growing clover in your yard can distract deer and rabbits from nibbling on other garden plants.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
The parrot has since moved from Auteuil’s head to a perch on his shoulder, nibbling at his ear with complete proprietary confidence.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Sip the famous Pseudo Sue IPA, or sample exploratory and seasonal beers while nibbling on pub favorites like cheese curds.
—Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026
And then there’s some outings where there’s too much nibbling with the cutter, with the sweeper, as opposed to staying on the attack.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
To avoid your dog nibbling on dangerous plants altogether, take the following steps.
—Amy Deyoung, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Eight neighbors, including Pugliese, sit around the coffee table sipping wine and nibbling on cheese cubes and fish dip, a black cat named Aura circling their ankles.
—Jessica Blough, CNN Money, 22 May 2026
The brand management companies — which scoop up intellectual property and work with partners who make and distribute the goods — were already doing more than nibbling around the edges.
—Evan Clark, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Growing clover in your yard can distract deer and rabbits from nibbling on other garden plants.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
The parrot has since moved from Auteuil’s head to a perch on his shoulder, nibbling at his ear with complete proprietary confidence.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Sip the famous Pseudo Sue IPA, or sample exploratory and seasonal beers while nibbling on pub favorites like cheese curds.
—Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026
And then there’s some outings where there’s too much nibbling with the cutter, with the sweeper, as opposed to staying on the attack.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nibbling
Verb
-
Eating Too Much or Too Late Eating a large dinner or snacking too close to bedtime can cause a rise in blood sugar that may last all night, especially if the snack is high in simple carbs.—
Jennifer Lefton,
Verywell Health,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Skeletor is all pixels with a clattering jaw perfect for chewing the scenery.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
Brunson was clearly perturbed by the sound of his friend chewing while in front of a microphone.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Kaua'i’s northwest coast is one of the world's most rapidly eroding shores.—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
As many others have noted, including Fortune contributor Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at the Tufts Fletcher School, this is now structurally unwinding, rather than slowly eroding.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
There Are No Foolproof Methods No single technique will completely prevent birds from pecking on your fruits.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
-
Nyjer thistle seeds are also very small, and many birds will love pecking them off the sides or roof of your edible birdhouse.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Put simply, Maine would not be Maine without its lobster—and a trip to Maine wouldn’t be complete without eating some.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Unlike eating enough protein or seeing how hydration affects your skin, gut health is an important, yet somewhat immeasurable, key to human health.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Martha Stewart,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nibbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nibbling. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
