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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool
better wear a windbreaker if you're going sailing in this nipping wind
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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
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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
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4
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
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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
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Nov. 2025
Lately, though, that breakdown of trust has started nipping at Wikipedia’s heels.
—Harry Booth, Time, 9 Nov. 2025
And perhaps most tellingly, the entire event was tinged with anticipation of Japan’s 2026 spotlight as the Cannes Film Market’s Country of Honor, a coronation that arrives just as Korean and Chinese competitors are nipping at Japanese content’s heels.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
Political forecasters give the GOP a better shot in New Jersey, where their nominee, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, is nipping away at Sherrill's lead in the polls.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 26 Oct. 2025
The Washington Commanders are also nipping at the Cowboys' heels with a 3-4 record.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Deadline has Black Phone 2 estimated to make $12 million this weekend with Chainsaw Man nipping at its heels at between $11 million and $14 million across 3,000 theaters.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
And a fierce competitor is nipping at the agency’s heels.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
Legette’s catch started an extraordinary Panthers comeback that ended with Carolina nipping Miami, 27-24, in front of the home crowd at Bank of America Stadium.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
The Supra's sharp handling and responsive powertrains, however, mean its happier nipping apexes than long highway slogs.
—Verb
Profanity was, apparently, nipping at Kelly Ripa's nose on Friday morning's episode of Live With Kelly and Mark.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipping
Adjective
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Farther north, snow dusted Bologna and gave skiers in the Dolomites reason to cheer, though freezing temperatures are forecast for much of the north and central part of the peninsula over the coming days.—
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Scenes from outside the federal building included opposing demonstrations, with some voicing support for Maduro and many others who bundled up in the freezing weather to applaud his arrest.—
Adjective
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Threatening retirees’ ranks and pensions, which took a lifetime to earn, has a chilling effect.—
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However, apple trees require proper chilling hours to break dormancy and produce fruit.—
Verb
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Millions of Americans are shaving down their grocery budgets and putting off buying a home as wages fail to meet rising costs of living.—
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Emma Stone Stone kicked off the year with a bang—or, rather, a pixie—after shaving her head for her role in Bugonia.—
Verb
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And as often happens with private equity acquisitions of retailers, the companies were larded with unsustainable debt, which made investing in the core business more difficult and led to penny-pinching measures that have been destructive to the businesses.—
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The chain, which got its start in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950, has been a favorite for penny-pinching burger lovers for decades now and its new Whatdeals will help cement that reputation.—
Verb
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Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.—
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Jacob Elordi is known for stealing hearts on and off-screen.—
Verb
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But one weekend in November, people who would typically be hurrying by, staring down at their phones, stopped.—
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Butler began hurrying Boise State and pushing up the tempo, which allowed the Broncos to score off several backdoor cuts and slip screens for big dunks and layups at the rim.—
Adjective
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The slick material keeps chafing to a minimum during workouts, and the brushed inside is so soft against the skin and helps keep cold air out and your body heat in.—
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The heating coils are wrapped tightly and distributed evenly throughout the throw, providing consistent warmth without noticeable cold spots.—
Adjective
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Featuring an oversized cardigan paired with tapered pants, it can easily be paired with a simple tank top, T-shirt, or turtleneck when things get a bit chillier.—
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The cotton-blend fabric is made for lightweight warmth to keep the cold at bay without heavy layers on chilly days.—
Cite this Entry
“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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