1
as in shaved
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in stole
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in raced
to proceed or move quickly
I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nipped
Katie Abel, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Bowen nipped in ahead of Calvin Bassey and passed to Summerville, who advanced to stroke his fifth league goal of the season, and seventh in 10 appearances across all competitions, into the unguarded net.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Why weren’t these unsavory tactics nipped in the bud?
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Kurt Busch nipped Johnson by eight points in 2004, followed by Stewart’s 52-point margin in 2005.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Mercedes pulled the wraps off the 2027 S500 4Matic, S580 4Matic, and S580e 4Matic today, heralding a not completely new, but largely refreshed, nipped, and tucked version of the German automaker’s flagship sedan.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 29 Jan. 2026
Then Kyle Shanahan nipped the situation in the bud on Thursday.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson nipped that idea in the bud following Saturday night’s loss.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Dec. 2025
Tiafoe nipped Alcaraz in a tiebreaker in 2024.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025
Adjective
One standout style, with its elongated pointed nipped toe, is crafted in carbon fiber and galvanized in a car factory.
—Katie Abel, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
There was also a scuba aesthetic that continued from last season with honkering inflatable coats, cocooning anoraks, and neoprene blazers nipped at the waist that looked like couture life vests and scuba suits.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Bowen nipped in ahead of Calvin Bassey and passed to Summerville, who advanced to stroke his fifth league goal of the season, and seventh in 10 appearances across all competitions, into the unguarded net.
—Roshane Thomas, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Why weren’t these unsavory tactics nipped in the bud?
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Kurt Busch nipped Johnson by eight points in 2004, followed by Stewart’s 52-point margin in 2005.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
Mercedes pulled the wraps off the 2027 S500 4Matic, S580 4Matic, and S580e 4Matic today, heralding a not completely new, but largely refreshed, nipped, and tucked version of the German automaker’s flagship sedan.
—Jerry Perez, The Drive, 29 Jan. 2026
Then Kyle Shanahan nipped the situation in the bud on Thursday.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson nipped that idea in the bud following Saturday night’s loss.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 14 Dec. 2025
Tiafoe nipped Alcaraz in a tiebreaker in 2024.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipped
Adjective
-
The menu includes Easter ham, steamship round beef and roast chicken, plus breakfast items, pastas, salads, chilled shrimp, sushi, and 12 different dessert cakes, tarts, cookies and ice creams.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Those included issues with liquid hydrogen — a super-chilled propellant that is notorious for leaking — seeping out of the rocket at higher-than-acceptable rates during an initial fueling test.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Out of the 286 original applicants, the list of finalists has been shaved down to 21, according to one of the finalists.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The cheese, though, is white Prairie Breeze, shaved fine and mounded like a snowdrift atop the bowl.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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At one point during the scuffle, McGinnis was lifted from the ground as the officers and senator were trying to physically remove him, and his left hand was apparently pinched in the gap between the hinge side of the door and the adjacent molding.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Hosts Newcastle United had 10 men for the whole of the second half but somehow pinched a 2-1 win in the final throes of the contest.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Shortstop Rachel Swenson drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, stole second and third base, and crossed home plate after a Country Day miscue to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
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Police said that in each instance, the thief broke into a locked car on the street or in a public parking garage and stole the vehicle.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three off-duty lifeguards who were surfing nearby raced to help Eastman.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Adults would line up around the block for cupcakes that came out of vending machines; a company selling jumbo cupcakes with custard filling IPO’d at $13 a share, and people raced to buy a sheet of miniature tie-due cupcakes for $45.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
When Bill’s older brother Henry (Barry Ward) finds the pianist in numbed solitude in his dingy apartment, Bill has canceled all his upcoming gigs, saying Scotty cannot be replaced.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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Ingber also notes the numbed response to these strikes from much of the American public, something that, in part, may come from the routine nature of these drone strikes as something that the nation has become desensitized to dropping bombs on enemies.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The fear, Webster said, can make young athletes avoid sport-specific movements like cutting or jumping even after physical clearance.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Worries have gotten so high that traders have canceled nearly all their bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates this year, according to data from CME Group.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nipped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipped. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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