1
as in spice
the quality or state of being stimulating to the mind or senses
the barbecue sauce has a nip to it that balances out the sweetness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shred
a very small amount
I'll have just a nip of your sandwich
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness
there's a nip in the air today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to shave
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 to steal
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 to hurry
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 nip
Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. 2024
The superfine, pressed powder nips shine in the bud and blurs the look of pores, all while depositing 10 forms of hyaluronic acid to the skin to keep things nice and soft.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 9 Oct. 2024
Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
History nipped at Finke’s heels, biting, clawing and trying to pull him back under the water with every stroke of his arduous 1,500-meter freestyle swim.
—Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nip 
Noun
And why did the Free Press take a nip at Cooley in an election story last week?
—Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. 2024
The superfine, pressed powder nips shine in the bud and blurs the look of pores, all while depositing 10 forms of hyaluronic acid to the skin to keep things nice and soft.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
But perhaps to nip that in the bud — and to give both a nod to Streep and a little Easter Egg for fans — Hilty has a gift for fans in the Playbill.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
History nipped at Finke’s heels, biting, clawing and trying to pull him back under the water with every stroke of his arduous 1,500-meter freestyle swim.
—Dana O'Neil, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nip
Verb
-
Smith wagered his hair on it, making a bet with three cadets over the winner with the losing side having to shave their head.Matt Weyrich, Baltimore Sun, 14 Dec. 2024
-
Buehler had shaved his head to help raise money for childhood cancer research through St. Baldrick’s Foundation.Jen Karmarkar, Orange County Register, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Cybertruck owners can also now pinch and zoom to increase the size of the rear video feed.Tyler Hayes, PCMAG, 2 Dec. 2024
-
Look for discounts on dessert Dessert might pinch your wallet the most this year.John Towfighi, CNN, 24 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The Davenports: More Than This by Krystal Marquis When The Davenports was released in 2023, the Davenport sisters stole our hearts.Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 18 Dec. 2024
-
While brushing may appear like a victimless crime, the reality is that the recipient's personal information may have been stolen.Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
This past weekend, families, dragging wheelie bags and carrying blankets, were hurrying in both directions.Eliza Griswold, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2024
-
Kraven the Hunter couldn’t be hurried along in reshoots and rewrites.Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The Fed ultimately voted to begin cutting rates in September and again opted to lower rates at its November meeting, just days after the election.Julia Shapero, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2024
-
Macy’s — Shares shed less than 1% after the department store chain cut its fiscal-year forecast .Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Republicans will start the new Congress on Jan. 3 with a 219-215 majority, but Trump also has tapped two Republicans for administration roles, which would reduce the majority to 217 until special elections are held.Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 17 Dec. 2024
-
The majority of the film is set within the confines of an asylum and a courtroom, with Fleck being held accountable for the handful of murders committed from the last film.Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The solid, stick treatment is super easy to swipe on, minimizing mess.Deanna Pai, Allure, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Maximizing delivery efficiency has come with a pleasantly surprising side effect: preventing bad actors from swiping parcels because they aren’t properly secured.Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Seattle scored over 20 points for the first time since Week 7 and rushed for a season-high 176 yards, led by Charbonnet, who had a career-high 134 yards and a pair of first-half touchdowns starting in place of Kenneth Walker III (calf).Michael-Shawn Dugar, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
-
Hodge rushed for four touchdowns and also passed for 225 yards and two scores as Christian Academy beat Union County 42-21 in the Class 3A championship game.Rich Barak, The Courier-Journal, 8 Dec. 2024
Articles Related to nip
Video
'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?
We're gonna stop you right there
Thesaurus Entries Near nip
Cite this Entry
“Nip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nip. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share