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
-
Richard claimed she was locked alone in the freezing car for two hours, unable to leave the vehicle because there were no interior door handles.
-
Ensure that your freezer is set to the coldest setting before starting the flash-freezing process.
Adjective
-
Some human rights experts have said that detaining such a high-ranking and high-profile doctor has left a chilling effect.
-
The commemoration this year highlights a trend toward a chilling erasure of history, culture and achievements of African-Americans.
Verb
-
Right now, Amazon has it on sale for 33% off, sending the price tag below $100 and shaving $50 off.
-
Borrowers with strong credit may be able to qualify for a rate below that threshold, and shaving even half a point off your rate can add meaningful room to your price ceiling.
Verb
-
Instead of kicking back, most workers are delaying their flight from the nest thanks to an affordability crisis pinching the wallets of everyday Americans.
-
But the Department of Homeland Security—an organization not otherwise known for their penny-pinching nature— somehow managed to build the Transportation Security Administration’s Canine Training Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland for $12 million.
Verb
-
As the berries begin to ripen, cover the pots with netting to keep birds and other animals from stealing your harvest.
-
The technology’s ability to reduce theft and fraud is especially intriguing, given the crimes are not generally a person or group simply stealing freight.
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
-
To prevent that, some operators maintain low oil flow rates, akin to dripping a faucet in freezing cold weather to avoid frozen pipes.
-
Aging And The Long Game Of Leadership The conversation around aging often centers on biohackers seeking to lower their biological age through cold plunges, red light therapy, and peptides.
Adjective
-
Monochrome Fit Summer weather can be unpredictable, with chilly mornings and blistering hot afternoons.
-
Lopez has stepped out in Paris twice wearing a similar go-to uniform, including a breezy, lightweight outer layer that is ideal for chilly summer nights or rainy afternoons.
Cite this Entry
“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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