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
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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
-
There Are No Foolproof Methods No single technique will completely prevent birds from pecking on your fruits.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
24 May 2026
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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
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Cud-chewing calves like Mabel don't get any antibodies in the womb and depend on the colostrum — or first milk — from their moms for those antibodies in the 24 hours after they are born.—
Jordyn Noennig,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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Archaeologists have mostly found evidence for betel nut chewing in ancient times through easily visible stains and fragments of betel leaves and nuts in teeth.—
Elizabeth Rayne,
ArsTechnica,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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China's anti-involution campaign aims to dissuade industries against destructive price wars to gain market share at the expense of eroding profits.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
25 Aug. 2025
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This strategy, often driven by insecurity, harms productivity, morale, and innovation, while eroding trust and talent.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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They’re named for the fries Steve remembers eating as a kid in a small mountain village in the Apennines in southern Bologna.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
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When food is digested slowly, glucose is released more gradually into the bloodstream, preventing a significant spike in blood sugar levels after eating.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nibbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nibbling. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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