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
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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
The water is brackish and refreshingly cold, with darting fish nibbling at dangling feet.
—
Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
Setting traps and baits eradicates or, at least, discourages these pests from tunneling through your garden and nibbling roots to damage perennials and shrubs.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 15 Jan. 2026
Most of them spend a decent chunk of time nibbling on beetles, moths, mosquitoes, and the like.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 3 Dec. 2025
Fabulous house, wonderful food, 30 companies trolling for dough, a raft of others nibbling and drinking.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
To prevent injury, wrap tree bark in late fall and remove in early spring (this will also prevent rodent nibbling of the trunk).
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
Even shoppers nibbling on a slice of pizza seemed to be mocking him.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
But now social media is eating media-media’s lunch, nibbling into time that used to be spent watching TV and movies, particularly for younger generations, and refashioning itself less as a network and more as a broadcaster.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
My favorite place to enjoy them is Louis Cafe, where they’re tossed with parsley, onion, and red peppers—ideal for nibbling while people-watching and soaking up the live jazz that gives this new-school kafeneio, or café, its charm.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026
Setting traps and baits eradicates or, at least, discourages these pests from tunneling through your garden and nibbling roots to damage perennials and shrubs.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 15 Jan. 2026
Most of them spend a decent chunk of time nibbling on beetles, moths, mosquitoes, and the like.
—Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 3 Dec. 2025
Fabulous house, wonderful food, 30 companies trolling for dough, a raft of others nibbling and drinking.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
To prevent injury, wrap tree bark in late fall and remove in early spring (this will also prevent rodent nibbling of the trunk).
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
Even shoppers nibbling on a slice of pizza seemed to be mocking him.
—Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
But now social media is eating media-media’s lunch, nibbling into time that used to be spent watching TV and movies, particularly for younger generations, and refashioning itself less as a network and more as a broadcaster.
—Julie Beck, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
My favorite place to enjoy them is Louis Cafe, where they’re tossed with parsley, onion, and red peppers—ideal for nibbling while people-watching and soaking up the live jazz that gives this new-school kafeneio, or café, its charm.
—Katherine Whittaker, Saveur, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nibbling
Verb
-
Some may be more liquid, while others really require chewing.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
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In other words, the chin contributes negligibly to resisting chewing forces.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Projects that bypass rigorous upfront analysis often end up relying on emergency mitigation, enforcement-heavy solutions, and costly redesigns, eroding public trust along the way.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
When the stock finally gets momentum, Cramer said the sellers appear, eroding the gains.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By the time a new museum renovation has hatched, a successor is already pecking through its shell.—
Jackson Arn,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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How to make even healthy eating affordable One way to make more expensive items like meat and seafood more affordable is to buy them in bulk.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
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They can also be used for pancakes, burgers, or even hash browns to make homemade breakfasts feel more like eating at your favorite neighborhood café.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nibbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nibbling. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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