1
as in trimming
to make (something) shorter or smaller with the use of a cutting instrument
a mother who's sad to see her little boy's curls clipped for the first time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hitting
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
the pitch clipped the batter's helmet with enough force to knock it clean off his head
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 clipping
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
All those murder clippings made for a long, low-pressure system.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2026
Debaleena Chattopadhyay, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Shearing, or clipping only the outer layer, forms a dense shell that blocks light and air from the center, which can attract pests and disease.
—Lauren Dunec Hoang, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clipping
Noun
With the help of that tiny clipping of moss, the defendants were eventually convicted of desecrating human remains in 2015.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2026
All those murder clippings made for a long, low-pressure system.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
For example, even the simple act of clipping coupons has gone digital – marginalizing older adults who are unable to navigate store apps to access these discounts.
—Debaleena Chattopadhyay, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Shearing, or clipping only the outer layer, forms a dense shell that blocks light and air from the center, which can attract pests and disease.
—Lauren Dunec Hoang, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clipping
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clipping
Noun
-
Love the leg-shaving reference.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Fans making outrageous public bets on social media — shaving heads, getting tattoos, eating bizarre foods — has become its own genre of internet content.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Officials will spend months trimming, adding to and massaging the financial books to address residents’ priorities.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In 2018, seventeen-year-old landscaper Alex Childress was rushed to the hospital with third-degree burns on his face after unknowingly trimming giant hogweed.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gerhardt Konig hoped Thursday to persuade a Hawaiian jury that hitting his wife repeatedly with a rock was self-defense.—
April 2,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The film also was shown at a number of other festivals before hitting the awards circuit as the Palestinian entry for this year’s Academy Awards.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The problem is that funds marketed to retail investors allow just that, offering them the chance to take out a sliver of their money on a quarterly or monthly basis.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
But with Friday’s 131-113 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Bulls were officially eliminated from postseason contention, removing the last sliver of competition from the final two-week stretch of the season.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Virginia made one last push, cutting TCU’s lead to 65-55, but the Horned Frogs quickly delivered the knockout blow as Miles knocked down a 3 and Suarez hit sophomore center Clara Silva for a layup to end Virginia’s hopes of another upset.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Huston’s come a long way from cutting hair near 87th Street and Wornall Road.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Airlines across the region, like Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific are slapping hefty fuel surcharges on flights; Vietnam and the Philippines are even weighing whether to ground planes.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
But every so often there comes a day that is so different—so unusual—so spectacular that its happening can only be chalked up to old-fashioned, knee-slapping good luck.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Extensive research has shown that the snippet of mRNA enters cells but not the cell nucleus, where most of your genetic material is stored.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Although just a snippet of the saga ahead, the trailer has already got muggles talking.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The man responded by punching the child's father in the nose, court documents said.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Michigan made a statement on Sunday, punching its ticket to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament.—
Rowan Fisher-Shotton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clipping. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
