nips 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of nip
as in splashes
a very small amount I'll have just a nip of your sandwich

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nips

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of nip
as in sips
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time give me just a nip of milk to help me swallow this pill

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nips

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of nip
1
as in shaves
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
2
as in pinches
to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the puppy nipped her hand while playing

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3
as in steals
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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4
as in rushes
to proceed or move quickly I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk

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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 nips
Noun
Built separately, the fiber nips were made using traditional hat-making techniques and then woven onto the suit as a final step. — Kirbie Johnson, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026 Maybe the two can take the nips out on a lovely date to the Wicker 4DX screenings later this month. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 Grace Geyoro patrols the midfield and constantly nips in for interceptions. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Expansions, nips, and tucks happened over the years, but the British Colonial design was needing a facelift when Hurricane Irma decimated the island in September 2017. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026 Not even regular nips from a hidden bottle of whiskey in the garage can ease Greg’s self-loathing. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026 As gasoline prices soar and inflation nips at vacation budgets, many travelers may have rethought the prospect of the Great American Road Trip. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026 This lens is made up of 20 elements and two mirrors plus a large-diameter aspherical lens that nips distortion and aberration in the bud. — New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026 Mercifully, Candace nips that potential Harold and Maude situation in the bud, leaving Steenburgen with her dignity intact. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
Verb
But the teacher nips the conversation in the bud, redirecting everyone’s attention to the lesson of the day. — Boaz Dvir, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nips
  1. splashes
  2. sips
  3. shaves
  4. pinches
  5. steals
  6. rushes
  7. touches
  8. drinks
Noun
  • The apron is built to take a beating—oils and rogue splashes barely register, practically rolling right off the surface.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Jazz fusion keyboardist George Duke, however, plays wild splashes of melody on an electric piano in the empty spaces between Waits’s lines.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of splashes
Noun
  • Attendees sample tastings of live-fire dishes from various chefs while enjoying sips of premium whiskey and wines from the region.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The 44-minute call and the memo Between sips of Guinness—a moment of apparent wincing by Zuckerberg went viral—the pair recounted how their partnership began.
    — Emma Witman, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of sips
Verb
  • That shaves a year off the typical 120-hour bachelor’s degree.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • For example, using behind-the-meter battery storage or local generation during peak windows actively shaves expensive demand charges without sacrificing performance.
    — Ray Fernandez, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of shaves
Verb
  • There will be a moment in the frenzy at the Estadio Azteca, probably as the teams take to the field or the first ball is kicked in anger, when Darren Thompson pinches himself to be witnessing all this first-hand.
    — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Dad pinches my cheek between his first two fingers with a soppy look in his eyes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
Definition of pinches
Verb
  • Professor Frink reanimates his formerly deceased father after winning the Nobel Prize, but the elder Frink, not content with his current body, steals parts and organs from other humans.
    — Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The central spiral staircase in the common area, with its ultra-plush carpeting, steals the show.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of steals
Verb
  • Bengals running back Corey Dillon rushes for an NFL single-game record 278 yards in a 31-21 victory over the Denver Broncos.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon dialed up more blitzes and two-high safety coverages in the second half, switching from a first-half strategy that was full of single-high and some three-man rushes.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of rushes
Noun
  • Loyalty to the restaurant and the market have grown through neighborhood-friendly touches like mahjong Mondays and a rainbow Pride Month Gay Card that provides discounts at the restaurant and other local businesses.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Three days of conversations about technology and everything technology touches.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of touches
Noun
  • Separate areas for lounging, dining and a drinks station, anchored by rugs, planter clusters or furniture changes, will become the default design brief.
    — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The beverage lineup includes espresso drinks, lattes, cappuccinos, cold and hot coffee, and specialty seasonal drinks.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of drinks

Browse Nearby Words

nippy
nips
nirvana
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Cite this Entry

“Nips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nips. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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