Synonyms of nip

nip 1 of 3

noun (1)

1

as in spice

the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses

the barbecue sauce has a nip to it that balances out the sweetness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spice
• tang
• piquancy
• zing
• zest
• pungency
• excitement
• thrill
• flavor
• spiciness
• stimulation
• bitterness
• stimulus
• hotness
• savor
• stimulant
• raciness
• invigoration
• acuteness
• sharpness
• keenness
• provocativeness
• fieriness
• tastiness
• mordancy
• trenchancy
• redolence
• savoriness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insipidity
• flatness
• tastelessness
• dullness
• monotony
• weakness
• predictability
• insipidity
• sameness
• tediousness
• platitude
• thinness
• blandness
• monotonousness

2

as in shred

a very small amount

I'll have just a nip of your sandwich

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shred
• splash
• hint
• glimmer
• sprinkling
• touch
• bit
• speck
• lick
• little
• tad
• dab
• spark
• trace
• smack
• handful
• pinch
• bite
• particle
• dram
• ounce
• smell
• ray
• streak
• crumb
• sliver
• suspicion
• spot
• mite
• peanuts
• drop
• strain
• snap
• shade
• spatter
• fleck
• scintilla
• smidgen
• scruple
• ace
• portion
• drop in the bucket
• soupçon
• nibble
• dash
• minimum
• shadow
• driblet
• dose
• skosh
• grain
• taste
• jot
• molecule
• patch
• modicum
• whit
• part
• atom
• syllable
• semblance
• granule
• section
• dot
• vestige
• morsel
• mote
• scattering
• scrap
• minim
• iota
• fragment
• hoot
• tittle
• shiver
• smattering
• flyspeck
• flake
• nubbin
• clipping
• splinter
• chip
• shaving
• tatter
• paring
• shard
• smatter
• smithereens
• shot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deal
• loads
• plenty
• mountain
• quantity
• pile
• mass
• stack
• peck
• bundle
• barrel
• mess
• bushel
• abundance
• bucket
• wealth
• lot
• heaps
• wad
• raft
• fistful
• profusion
• reams
• volume
• surplus
• excess
• lashings
• gobs
• embarrassment
• overflow
• passel
• oodles
• surfeit
• boatload
• potful
• scads
• bonanza
• overabundance
• oversupply
• lump
• much
• superabundance
• superfluity
• slab
• overage
• chunk
• hunk
• overkill
• overmuch

3

as in chill

an uncomfortable degree of coolness

there's a nip in the air today

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chill
• bitterness
• bite
• chilliness
• cold
• bleakness
• coldness
• sharpness
• nippiness
• rawness
• crispness
• briskness
• freeze
• iciness
• frigidity
• frostiness
• snap
• frigidness
• gelidity
• wintriness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warmth
• warmness
• heat
• balminess
• hotness
• sultriness

nip

2 of 3

noun (2)

as in sip

the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time

give me just a nip of milk to help me swallow this pill

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sip
• drink
• gulp
• swallow
• belt
• sup
• snort
• slug
• swig
• draft
• drag
• drop
• shot
• quaff
• swill
• dram

nip

3 of 3

verb

ˈnip 

1

as in to shave

to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument

I'm just going to nip these hedges, and then I'll be done with the work outside

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shave
• cut
• trim
• clip
• mow
• snip
• prune
• crop
• pare
• cut back
• shear
• dock
• bob
• lop (off)
• poll
• pinch
• whittle
• skive
• curtail
• shorten
• stump
• manicure

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extend
• elongate
• lengthen

2

as in to pinch

to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points

the puppy nipped her hand while playing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pinch
• hold
• clutch
• grip
• grasp
• take
• clasp
• tweak
• crimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• drop
• release
• free
• spring
• loosen
• loose

3

as in to steal

to take (something) without right and with an intent to keep

that guy nipped my wallet from the restaurant table when I turned away

Synonyms & Similar Words

• steal
• swipe
• grab
• lift
• snatch
• pinch
• pilfer
• filch
• purloin
• rob
• thieve
• nick
• snitch
• pocket
• appropriate
• hook
• rip off
• take
• boost
• run off with
• walk off with
• misappropriate
• hijack
• pick
• make away with
• seize
• sack
• make off with
• heist
• loot
• knock over
• plunder
• pillage
• poach
• rustle
• burglarize
• rifle
• shoplift
• grasp
• kidnap
• collar
• spirit
• nail
• abduct
• sponge
• mooch
• carjack
• shanghai

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• buy
• purchase
• give
• present
• contribute
• donate
• bestow
• hand over

4

as in to hurry

to proceed or move quickly

I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurry
• rush
• scurry
• trot
• fly
• drive
• travel
• race
• speed
• chase
• jump
• scoot
• zip
• run
• blow
• buzz
• scuttle
• dart
• step
• rip
• tear
• shoot
• jog
• breeze
• dash
• blast
• rustle
• zoom
• hasten
• bowl
• whirl
• bolt
• hurl
• jet
• hump
• hustle
• belt
• hie
• ram
• crack (on)
• blaze
• motor
• rocket
• whisk
• career
• hurtle
• course
• hare
• beat it
• barrel
• bundle
• pelt
• get a move on
• gallop
• bustle
• careen
• bomb
• highball
• make tracks
• flit
• step on it
• scamper
• shake a leg
• hotfoot (it)
• cannonball
• streak
• accelerate
• beetle
• sprint
• scuffle
• stampede
• overtake
• scud
• step out
• whiz
• outrun
• quicken
• catch up
• outpace
• outstrip
• arrow
• fast-forward
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• crawl
• drag
• poke
• linger
• poke
• hang (around or out)
• lag
• loiter
• dawdle
• stroll
• saunter
• tarry
• amble
• shuffle
• slow (down or up)
• plod
• lumber
• decelerate
• dillydally
• dally

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of nip

Noun

This lens is made up of 20 elements and two mirrors plus a large-diameter aspherical lens that nips distortion and aberration in the bud. — New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026

Back for an Encore Why not take advantage of the coming cooler weather with plants that prefer a nip in the air? — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2026

Verb

For instance, teaching your dog how to play with a pull toy can help reduce nipping at hands and strengthen the bond between human and dog. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Cristopher Sanchez worked six effective innings to become the majors’ first 16-game winner as the Philadelphia Phillies nipped the visiting Miami Marlins 6-5 on Monday. — Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing nip

• nip and tuck

Video

'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?

We're gonna stop you right there