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
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
Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
The Washington Commanders are also nipping at the Cowboys' heels with a 3-4 record.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Deadline has Black Phone 2 estimated to make $12 million this weekend with Chainsaw Man nipping at its heels at between $11 million and $14 million across 3,000 theaters.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
And a fierce competitor is nipping at the agency’s heels.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Legette’s catch started an extraordinary Panthers comeback that ended with Carolina nipping Miami, 27-24, in front of the home crowd at Bank of America Stadium.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
Closing out the 2017 Oscars, Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty presented the Best Picture category, with La La Land as the frontrunner and Moonlight nipping at its heels.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
The Panthers were able to prevent Pembroke from a clean sweep of both team championships, nipping the Titans for the girls crown by just nine points in the school standings with 69 overall.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2025
The design is thoughtful, with the empire waist nipping in high enough on the torso that the crotch area won’t be prone to clinging.
—Sarah Chiwaya, refinery29.com, 21 Jan. 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
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
The Washington Commanders are also nipping at the Cowboys' heels with a 3-4 record.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Deadline has Black Phone 2 estimated to make $12 million this weekend with Chainsaw Man nipping at its heels at between $11 million and $14 million across 3,000 theaters.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
And a fierce competitor is nipping at the agency’s heels.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Legette’s catch started an extraordinary Panthers comeback that ended with Carolina nipping Miami, 27-24, in front of the home crowd at Bank of America Stadium.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
Closing out the 2017 Oscars, Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty presented the Best Picture category, with La La Land as the frontrunner and Moonlight nipping at its heels.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 1 Mar. 2025
The Panthers were able to prevent Pembroke from a clean sweep of both team championships, nipping the Titans for the girls crown by just nine points in the school standings with 69 overall.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2025
The design is thoughtful, with the empire waist nipping in high enough on the torso that the crotch area won’t be prone to clinging.
—Sarah Chiwaya, refinery29.com, 21 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipping
Adjective
-
High temperatures are forecast to only reach the 30s across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and northern New England, and sub-freezing lows will be possible as far south as the Central Plains and Tennessee Valley, the Weather Prediction Center said.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The November moon has also been called the digging moon, the deer rutting moon, the whitefish moon, the frost moon and the freezing moon.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
That especially applies to properties linked to some of the city’s most chilling murder cases.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The film provides a chilling look at what could happen if a nuclear missile were launched at the United States.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Another unit in Tsuen Wan, a residential neighborhood in the New Territories, was sold at a loss of $142,000, shaving 40% off the original price, according to local news reports.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
-
There’s the 1978 Boston College point-shaving scandal, where student athletes were paid by the mob to limit the number of points their team scored.—
David Hill,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While there have been many fine adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Alastair Sim's performance as the miserly, penny-pinching Ebenezer Scrooge elevates this version to must-see status.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The high elastic waistband flatteringly cinches without pinching, according to one shopper, and the baggy wide-leg design gives your legs room to move through long airport lines and eight-hour workdays.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The sign-stealing scandal of the Houston Astros [who beat the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series].—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
-
What was once a guilty-pleasure show for the whole family to enjoy has since captivated audiences through a refreshing social media strategy and stars like Robert Irwin, who is totally stealing hearts on the dance floor and our phone screens.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the footage, the children could be seen hurrying off the bus and onto the woman’s porch as the smoke grew.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Pedestrians are hurrying past to find their places on Fifth Avenue, but the girls have a different kind of readiness about them.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kimberly-Clark has been attempting to challenge the dominance of consumer goliath Procter & Gamble, whose business spans all drugstore aisles, including cold and digestion medicines.—
NPR,
NPR,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Insulate With Mulch No matter the zone, crepe myrtles can benefit from additional mulch that locks in moisture and insulates the roots in cold weather.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The high Arctic is home to an array of breathtaking sights, unique wildlife, and remarkable terrain that can only be experienced by traveling to the chilly region, and Atlas Ocean Voyages wants to take you there in style.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Temperatures will stay chilly over the weekend, reaching around 50 degrees on Saturday and 56 degrees on Sunday.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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