Synonyms of nipping

nipping 1 of 2

adjective

ˈni-piŋ 

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

• freezing
• cold
• icy
• chilly
• frigid
• chill
• cool
• numbing
• nippy
• frosty
• bitter
• arctic
• brisk
• glacial
• polar
• wintry
• ice-cold
• gelid
• cooled
• chilled
• shivery
• snappy
• algid
• coolish
• cutting
• coldish
• penetrating
• bone-chilling
• crisp
• piercing
• cryogenic
• bracing
• subzero
• subfreezing
• keen
• ultracold
• frozen
• sharp
• iced
• frosted
• rigorous
• unheated
• refrigerated
• invigorating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• burning
• boiling
• hot
• warming
• searing
• broiling
• seething
• torrid
• molten
• sweltering
• blazing
• roasting
• red-hot
• fervent
• fiery
• ardent
• sizzling
• igneous
• white-hot
• piping hot
• glowing
• fervid
• lukewarm
• heated
• tepid
• sultry
• scorching
• scalding
• warm
• warmed
• overheated
• ultrahot
• snug
• reheated
• inflamed
• feverish
• flushed
• tropical
• equatorial
• steamy
• toasty
• muggy
• summery
• canicular

2

as in chilling

uncomfortably cool

better wear a windbreaker if you're going sailing in this nipping wind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chilling
• chilly
• chill
• bitter
• freezing
• brisk
• bleak
• cold
• nippy
• frigid
• icy
• sharp
• raw
• bracing
• crisp
• arctic
• numbing
• frosty
• glacial
• wintry
• ice-cold
• polar
• snappy
• rigorous
• invigorating
• shivery
• frozen
• iced
• coolish
• subzero
• frosted
• subfreezing
• unheated
• refrigerated
• frore

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warm
• balmy
• lukewarm
• heated
• tepid
• warmed

nipping

2 of 2

verb

present participle of nip

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

• shaving
• cutting
• trimming
• clipping
• snipping
• bobbing
• mowing
• cropping
• pruning
• shearing
• paring
• docking
• cutting back
• polling
• lopping (off)
• pinching
• whittling
• curtailing
• skiving
• shortening
• manicuring
• stumping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• extending
• lengthening
• elongating

2

as in pinching

to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points

the puppy nipped her hand while playing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pinching
• holding
• clasping
• clutching
• grasping
• gripping
• taking
• crimping
• tweaking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dropping
• springing
• releasing
• freeing
• loosening
• loosing

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

• stealing
• swiping
• grabbing
• pinching
• snatching
• lifting
• nicking
• pilfering
• thieving
• robbing
• filching
• purloining
• pocketing
• hooking
• snitching
• appropriating
• picking
• ripping off
• boosting
• taking
• misappropriating
• running off with
• making off with
• hijacking
• making away with
• seizing
• plundering
• heisting
• sacking
• walking off with
• pillaging
• looting
• burglarizing
• knocking over
• rustling
• grasping
• poaching
• shoplifting
• rifling
• collaring
• nailing
• abducting
• spiriting
• mooching
• sponging
• kidnapping
• carjacking
• shanghaiing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• buying
• purchasing
• giving
• presenting
• contributing
• bestowing
• donating
• handing over

4

as in hurrying

to proceed or move quickly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hurrying
• scurrying
• zipping
• rushing
• trotting
• speeding
• racing
• chasing
• driving
• flying
• traveling
• jumping
• scooting
• darting
• running
• buzzing
• blowing
• tearing
• stepping
• dashing
• scuttling
• ripping
• bolting
• blasting
• zooming
• ramming
• bowling
• breezing
• hustling
• rustling
• blazing
• shooting
• jogging
• careering
• hurling
• barreling
• whirling
• humping
• hastening
• bundling
• haring
• rocketing
• pelting
• whisking
• belting
• coursing
• hurtling
• galloping
• motoring
• jetting
• bustling
• careening
• cracking (on)
• cannonballing
• flitting
• beating it
• hying
• scampering
• bombing
• highballing
• sprinting
• scuffling
• getting a move on
• making tracks
• stepping on it
• scudding
• streaking
• accelerating
• hotfooting (it)
• shaking a leg
• stampeding
• whizzing
• overtaking
• beetling
• outrunning
• quickening
• outpacing
• outstripping
• stepping out
• arrowing
• catching up
• beelining
• fast-forwarding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creeping
• poking
• crawling
• dragging
• lingering
• poking
• hanging (around or out)
• lagging
• loitering
• strolling
• dawdling
• shuffling
• dallying
• sauntering
• ambling
• plodding
• lumbering
• tarrying
• dillydallying
• slowing (down or up)
• decelerating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of nipping

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

In the space of 18 months, China has gone from lagging far behind the US to hosting multiple AI models that are nipping at the heels of Silicon Valley’s champions and gaining major traction among users globally. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026

Condos still win on total sales, aided by a more flexible ownership structure and a housing stock that can continue to expand, but in a twist few saw coming, co-ops are increasingly nipping at their heels. — John Walkup, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Before the call, Sinclair reported mixed results for the April-to-June period, nipping analysts’ consensus revenue forecast but falling short of estimates for net losses per share. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026

The knack for nipping past players and burning into attacking areas has been one of his strengths. — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026

With first-round pick Monroe Freeling no longer nipping at his heels, Walker has been able to settle in at left tackle and make the most of his opportunities. — Mike Kaye july 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026

Until then, though, college football belongs to the Big Ten with the SEC nipping at their heels, leaving the ACC in a distant third place. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026

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

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