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
Examples 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 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
Thanks to a little nipping and tucking, the Nissan Altima receives an attractive facelift for 2023.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 9 June 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
Prune Your Shrubs With Regal Shears Sculpting boxwoods into bunnies, trimming your David Austin roses or nipping daisies for a pickle-jar vase?
—Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 27 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
Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
The contest had narrowed considerably in the final weeks, and polls showed Hovde nipping at Baldwin’s heels.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Nvidia’s stock has also been rallying for much of October, and is nipping at Apple’s heels as the current second-most valuable company by market cap.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Nvidia’s stock has also been rallying for much of October, and is nipping at Apple’s heels as the current second most valuable company by market cap.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
In Paris, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Gigi Hadid have been making slouchy leather jackets the crux of their street-style looks, while models nipping between casting calls are throwing their own bikers over basics on the run.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2024
Eric is the old cowboy who is basically at the end of his career, and Harper is the young gunslinger who’s just nipping at his heels.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2024
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
Thanks to a little nipping and tucking, the Nissan Altima receives an attractive facelift for 2023.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 9 June 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
Prune Your Shrubs With Regal Shears Sculpting boxwoods into bunnies, trimming your David Austin roses or nipping daisies for a pickle-jar vase?
—Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 27 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
Vagabond quarterback Sam Darnold has kept the Vikings (10-2) nipping at the heels of the Lions all season.
—Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
The contest had narrowed considerably in the final weeks, and polls showed Hovde nipping at Baldwin’s heels.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Nvidia’s stock has also been rallying for much of October, and is nipping at Apple’s heels as the current second-most valuable company by market cap.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Nvidia’s stock has also been rallying for much of October, and is nipping at Apple’s heels as the current second most valuable company by market cap.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
In Paris, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Gigi Hadid have been making slouchy leather jackets the crux of their street-style looks, while models nipping between casting calls are throwing their own bikers over basics on the run.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2024
Eric is the old cowboy who is basically at the end of his career, and Harper is the young gunslinger who’s just nipping at his heels.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipping
Adjective
-
The polar fish is the only species of shark that can withstand the freezing temperatures year-round.Ashley Strickland, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
-
In freezing temperatures, the mirrors can freeze in a closed position.Mark Maynard, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
But even if such a legal strategy fails, Stern said, lawsuits can create a chilling effect because of the money and time media companies and journalists must spend fighting them.Elahe Izadi, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024
-
Ukraine’s killing of Kirillov will likely have a chilling effect among Russia’s elite, according to Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.Anna Chernova, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Her makeup, too, was equally icy, with a metallic silvery-white shadow brushed under her brow as a highlight and dramatic black eyeliner winged all the way out to the outer corner of her brows, plus a pair of light blue-gray contacts enhanced by majorly fluttery, lush lashes.Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Dec. 2024
-
White cautioned those traveling north of Indianapolis this weekend, however, should be mindful of potentially snowier, icier road conditions.Christopher Cann, The Indianapolis Star, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
On a damp and chilly day in mid-November, Ryan Hall pokes his nose into Sanders’ office to say hello.Maurice Tamman, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2024
-
Starring a chilly Angelina Jolie as Callas, the film insists on depicting the larger-than-life singer as a sad, hollow woman facing a tawdry death.Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Shakespeare, affectionately known as ‘Two Balls Shakey’ because of his penchant for holding a ball under each arm in training and during warm-up drills, contributed hugely to two promotions from League One in 2009 and the Championship in 2014, the great escape of 2015 and the 5000-1 title success.Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 24 Dec. 2024
-
Waterproof mascaras rely on film-forming copolymers, which help with flexibility, holding the eyelash's curl, and boosting temperature resistance.Sarah Han, Allure, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Take a look through the list, then pick your potion—and be sure to consult with your physician before swiping anything onto your delicate lash line.Jenny Berg, Allure, 24 Dec. 2024
-
Tinder made waves in 2012 by introducing the swiping mechanism, which has since been widely adopted.Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
In the nation's coldest big city, Minneapolis, the weather service said highs in the single digits to teens and lows below zero look likely for Friday and Saturday.Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 18 Dec. 2024
-
This cold air will quickly expand south and east Friday and encompass the entire eastern half of the country by Saturday.Mary Gilbert, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Nicholas Quah: In many ways, Landman is the chillest entry in the Sheridan-verse, which is typically packed with violence, melancholia, and dudely grouchiness.Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2024
-
For her, the glory of the honeymoon had been in the planning, the dreaming, the building up in her mind; what a letdown to find that Paris was just a place, that some days were full of chill gray drizzle, that the dull, thick bodies of other tourists blocked her from full joy.Lauren Groff, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near nipping
Cite this Entry
“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 27 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share