NIPPING Synonyms: 292 Similar and Opposite Words

nipping 1 of 2

adjective

ˈni-piŋ

Definition of nipping

as in freezing

having a low or subnormal temperature a group of campers waking up to the nipping air of a Rocky Mountain morning

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in chilling

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

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nipping

2 of 2

verb

present participle of nip

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pinching

to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the puppy nipped her hand while playing

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hurrying

to proceed or move quickly I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk

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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 nipping

Adjective

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 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 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 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 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

Verb

But Loyola is nipping at their heels. — Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 4 May 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 After all, new talents are constantly emerging and during their hiatus have begun nipping at their heels. — Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 21 Mar. 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 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 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 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipping

Adjective

If freezing temperatures are predicted, pick any ripe fruit and cover the trunks of young trees with burlap or newspaper to insulate them.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 July 2026
The injured climber couldn’t continue, forcing the pair to spend a freezing night on the mountain with limited supplies.

— James Ward, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of freezing

Adjective

Made-from-scratch cheesecake doesn’t seem so hard when made as cupcakes where there’s no water bath, springform pan, and long chilling time required.

— Brennan Long, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
Bell on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for Florida’s institutional neutrality policies, which discourages university leaders from taking official positions on political issues in an effort to avoid chilling debate among students and faculty.

— Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of chilling

Verb

Starting along short side of rectangle, lay 4 pieces of pepperoni side by side, half-inch apart, and roll into tight cylinder, pinching seam to seal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
Each arm has two finger-like pinching grippers that resemble the hands of a Lego mini figure.

— Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 28 June 2026

Definition of pinching

Verb

Peterson left office in 2017 after pleading guilty to stealing from his own campaign fund.

— Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
He’s accused of stealing $3 million from the client’s Northern Trust account involving about 200 transactions over a decade until he was fired from the private wealth-management bank in fall 2024.

— Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of stealing

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.

— Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of hurrying

Adjective

Next to him, the waters of Lincoln’s Sinking Spring still ran cold.

— Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026
If time doesn’t allow for spa treatments, a morning swim in the indoor pool accompanied by a sauna and cold plunge in one of their two thermal suites might suffice.

— Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of cold

Adjective

Flemings, like Peterson a one-and-done player in college, had 14 points on chilly 4-of-16 shooting.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
Then the movie ended, and someone flicked the lights, and people wiped their faces and checked their apps and the door opened for a chilly evening breeze.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026

Definition of chilly

Browse Nearby Words

nippiness

nipping

nippy

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“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of nipping

adjective

verb

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