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
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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
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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
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4
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly
I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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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
Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
Be right back, just nipping to the hospital to ask about these hives.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Ford Ranger has been Europe's sales leader among pickup trucks for the past decade, but the Hilux has long been nipping closely at its heels as a strong number 2 contender.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
Easy pants, like good denim via La Ligne or a pair of sheer, flowing dark blue skirt-pants from Paloma Wool, have proven themselves trusty for nipping across the city—comfy and covered.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
Profanity was, apparently, nipping at Kelly Ripa's nose on Friday morning's episode of Live With Kelly and Mark.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025
Lately, though, that breakdown of trust has started nipping at Wikipedia’s heels.
—Harry Booth, Time, 9 Nov. 2025
And perhaps most tellingly, the entire event was tinged with anticipation of Japan’s 2026 spotlight as the Cannes Film Market’s Country of Honor, a coronation that arrives just as Korean and Chinese competitors are nipping at Japanese content’s heels.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Political forecasters give the GOP a better shot in New Jersey, where their nominee, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, is nipping away at Sherrill's lead in the polls.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
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
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, the film previously believed to be this year’s best-picture front-runner, is nipping at Sinners’ heels with 13 nominations of its own.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 22 Jan. 2026
Be right back, just nipping to the hospital to ask about these hives.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Ford Ranger has been Europe's sales leader among pickup trucks for the past decade, but the Hilux has long been nipping closely at its heels as a strong number 2 contender.
—New Atlas, 16 Jan. 2026
Easy pants, like good denim via La Ligne or a pair of sheer, flowing dark blue skirt-pants from Paloma Wool, have proven themselves trusty for nipping across the city—comfy and covered.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
Profanity was, apparently, nipping at Kelly Ripa's nose on Friday morning's episode of Live With Kelly and Mark.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025
Lately, though, that breakdown of trust has started nipping at Wikipedia’s heels.
—Harry Booth, Time, 9 Nov. 2025
And perhaps most tellingly, the entire event was tinged with anticipation of Japan’s 2026 spotlight as the Cannes Film Market’s Country of Honor, a coronation that arrives just as Korean and Chinese competitors are nipping at Japanese content’s heels.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Political forecasters give the GOP a better shot in New Jersey, where their nominee, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, is nipping away at Sherrill's lead in the polls.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipping
Adjective
-
With bitter cold settling in across the Philadelphia area, people on both sides of the river were finding their own ways to deal with freezing temperatures — from bundling up to warming up from the inside.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Cortina d’Ampezzo now sees 41 fewer freezing days annually than when the Games were first held there in 1956.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But even without an arrest, First Amendment advocates say the law has a chilling effect.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
-
As part of the package, the White House is seeking to codify a dangerous government price control precedent into law that will have a chilling effect on medical innovation and patient choice.—
Washington Post,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
There wasn’t even a full question asked about the secret project using computer technology aimed at shaving fractions of a second off speedskating times to help the Americans bring home gold medals from the Milan Cortina Olympics.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Some of the same men involved in the NBA case were also indicted earlier this month in what federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania say was a college basketball point-shaving ring.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The son of an emotionally remote father and penny-pinching mom, Smith was born the eldest of two boys in Tacoma.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Starting from long side without border, roll dough into a tight log, pinching seam to seal.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The mood shifted around midnight, when a guest lost her phone and began accusing others of stealing it, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Two more people were arrested after allegedly stealing about $1 million in gold jewelry in the January smash-and-grab robbery of a Yuba City jewelry store, police said.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Meza Gonzalez and David Christian, one of her attorneys, refused to answer questions from reporters about the plea agreement, hurrying down a flight of stairs at the Cadena-Reeves Justice Center.—
Megan Rodriguez,
San Antonio Express-News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Snow and cold conditions have become increasingly unreliable.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Built for extreme cold Corvus One for Cold Chain uses industrial-grade barcode scanners with precise control over focus and exposure, enabling reliable label capture even when barcodes are frosted, damaged, or low contrast.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Relations between Bass and Horvath have been chilly at least since the Palisades fire broke out.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Sunday morning will be chilly with the upper 50s.—
Lissette Gonzalez,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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