1
as in freezing
having a low or subnormal temperature
a group of campers waking up to the nipping air of a Rocky Mountain morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
better wear a windbreaker if you're going sailing in this nipping wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in shaving
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 stealing
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 hurrying
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of nipping
Drew Dorian,
Car and Driver,
21 June 2023
But recent editorials in The People’s Daily—the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship publication—continued to call on China’s population to stick with its approach of staying vigilant and nipping outbreaks in the bud.
—
Sha Hua,
WSJ,
18 Nov. 2022
Likewise, her rep handled the announcements about the Bidens' rambunctious rescue dog, Major, who's been involved in several nipping incidents and has to undergo off-site behavior training.
—
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2021
The nipping incident comes a few weeks after the dog caused a minor injury to someone else at the White House.
—
Tim Perry,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2021
Del Mar extended its current winning streak to a season-best three in a row by first nipping Lincoln and then nudging San Jose 48-46.
—
Dave Mendonca,
The Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2017
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
30 May 2026
The series builds to his final French Open in 2024 when Father Time was nipping at his heels, navicular, hip, back and everything else.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Exactly one year after nipping Marist in the state finals at Duluth’s Cecil Morris Field, the Blessed Trinity Titans did it again in an identical manner, edging Marist 1-0 in the GHSA Class 4A girls’ soccer state championship game on Friday night.
—
Jeff Gable,
AJC.com,
16 May 2026
But Loyola is nipping at their heels.
—
Tarek Fattal,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Tired of the nipping Chihuahuas’ defense against him, Jokic let the official have it early on, getting a technical.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2026
After all, new talents are constantly emerging and during their hiatus have begun nipping at their heels.
—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Paradise kept nipping at the heels of Westwood, but never trailed by more than 9 points in the contest.
—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
Where the sharpness and definition can fade as viewers pull back projectors for super large screenings, AWOL Vision hit CES 2026 with a new model aimed at nipping that in the bud.
—
New Atlas,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The Supra's sharp handling and responsive powertrains, however, mean its happier nipping apexes than long highway slogs.
—
Drew Dorian,
Car and Driver,
21 June 2023
But recent editorials in The People’s Daily—the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship publication—continued to call on China’s population to stick with its approach of staying vigilant and nipping outbreaks in the bud.
—
Sha Hua,
WSJ,
18 Nov. 2022
Likewise, her rep handled the announcements about the Bidens' rambunctious rescue dog, Major, who's been involved in several nipping incidents and has to undergo off-site behavior training.
—
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2021
The nipping incident comes a few weeks after the dog caused a minor injury to someone else at the White House.
—
Tim Perry,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2021
Del Mar extended its current winning streak to a season-best three in a row by first nipping Lincoln and then nudging San Jose 48-46.
—
Dave Mendonca,
The Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2017
Verb
Of course, Qualcomm is also at Computex, and its Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme could well be nipping at the N1X's heels before long.
—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
30 May 2026
The series builds to his final French Open in 2024 when Father Time was nipping at his heels, navicular, hip, back and everything else.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 May 2026
Exactly one year after nipping Marist in the state finals at Duluth’s Cecil Morris Field, the Blessed Trinity Titans did it again in an identical manner, edging Marist 1-0 in the GHSA Class 4A girls’ soccer state championship game on Friday night.
—
Jeff Gable,
AJC.com,
16 May 2026
But Loyola is nipping at their heels.
—
Tarek Fattal,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Tired of the nipping Chihuahuas’ defense against him, Jokic let the official have it early on, getting a technical.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2026
After all, new talents are constantly emerging and during their hiatus have begun nipping at their heels.
—
Kati Chitrakorn,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Paradise kept nipping at the heels of Westwood, but never trailed by more than 9 points in the contest.
—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Mar. 2026
Where the sharpness and definition can fade as viewers pull back projectors for super large screenings, AWOL Vision hit CES 2026 with a new model aimed at nipping that in the bud.
—
New Atlas,
10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipping
Adjective
-
According to Chernoff, this can lead to excess frost, stale odors, and inconsistent freezing conditions, all of which negatively affect ice quality.
-
While alcohol lowers the freezing point of beer, it's still made mostly with water, and can eventually freeze solid if it's frozen for long enough.
Adjective
-
Hearing that growl, that was bone chilling, but working with the jaguar was awesome.
-
Open-government advocates said the bill would have a chilling effect on the public’s ability to access records.
Verb
-
Right now, Amazon has it on sale for 13% off, shaving $20 off.
-
Evert allowed cameras to accompany her to treatments and doctor appointments and document her son shaving off her hair after chemotherapy.
Verb
-
Starting along short side of rectangle, lay 4 pieces of pepperoni side by side, half-inch apart, and roll into tight cylinder, pinching seam to seal.
-
Each arm has two finger-like pinching grippers that resemble the hands of a Lego mini figure.
Verb
-
In December 1922, two Black men were abducted from the Pilot Point jail after being accused of stealing horses.
-
Wolfson and her friends would try the stunts at home, stealing shopping carts to push each other into curbs.
Verb
-
Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
-
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.
Adjective
-
Next to him, the waters of Lincoln’s Sinking Spring still ran cold.
-
If time doesn’t allow for spa treatments, a morning swim in the indoor pool accompanied by a sauna and cold plunge in one of their two thermal suites might suffice.
Adjective
-
Being able to switch on the heat when things got chilly in the middle of the night was one of our favorite features on the ID.
-
Various paths to the sea allow guests to move between the warmth of the saunas and paljus, to the chilly waters of the Baltic Sea.
Cite this Entry
“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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