snipping

verb

present participle of snip
as in shaving
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument snipped the loose ends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of snipping In the video, Frantz approaches the tangled animal with what appear to be pruning shears and starts snipping away at the wires. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2026 The janitor resumed steadily snipping the bushes with her shears. — Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026 Start by snipping the oldest leaves, and let the newer ones continue to grow. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026 Periodically snipping leaves or stems from your basil plant encourages it to put energy into creating new growth. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026 Harvest sage by snipping one leaf at a time with scissors or cutting off an entire stem just above a node. — Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2026 So don't be shy about snipping off leaves for your projects. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 15 May 2026 Police are searching for a straphanger suspected of unbolting a door switch from a inside a downtown C train Monday evening, snipping the wires and then absconding with the train part, sources tell the Daily News. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026 Nguyen’s striking direction in the scenes in which Kristen faces her future in the hospital elevates the maudlin material, especially after Kristen makes the choice to lose a leg in the hopes of snipping the cancer in the bud. — Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snipping
  1. shaving
  2. cutting
  3. trimming
  4. clipping
Verb
  • Men in some communities stop shaving, while women may remove their jewelry.
    — Shushan Karapetian, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Like almost winning a race, almost shaving a second off my time for the 3200m run, my event in high school, the one that got me into college, a recruit for someone else to gamble on.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of shaving
Verb
  • The plans were developed by the Department of Government Efficiency, a cost-cutting team initially overseen by billionaire Elon Musk, in response to a presidential order meant to rid the government of DEI programs.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Following its 2015 merger, the company adopted an aggressive cost-cutting mandate that leadership reported hitting, quarter after quarter, ahead of schedule.
    — Amer Al Ahbabi, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of cutting
Verb
  • The Legislature has been trimming home building regulations and should continue.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • During the winter holidays, millions of people are traveling, many of whom are expected at the Thanksgiving table or tree-trimming party.
    — Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of trimming
Verb
  • Later that summer, having turned professional, Russell qualified for her first World Championships but crashed out at the semifinals after clipping the second hurdle.
    — Fraser Godden, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The community is highly deferential to Fuentes, O’Brian says, eager to gain his favor by clipping and posting moments from his show or attacking his critics online.
    — Nathan Taylor Pemberton, Vanity Fair, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of clipping

Browse Nearby Words

snippety
snipping
snippy
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Cite this Entry

“Snipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snipping. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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