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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of nip
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 July 2025
My friends, who were white, started smuggling in nip bottles and pinch-hitters.
—Michael Thomas, New Yorker, 19 July 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Snakes are also common in Florida’s grasses: Dogs get curious and the snake could retaliate by nipping at their paws.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nip
Noun
Happy is miserable, drunk, broke, and working at the local Stop and Shop, where his daily grind is only broken up by taking nips from increasingly insane flasks (a cucumber, a TV remote, and many more).
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 25 July 2025
My friends, who were white, started smuggling in nip bottles and pinch-hitters.
—Michael Thomas, New Yorker, 19 July 2025
Verb
Cats might nip at you, known as love bites, to express their affection, share their emotion and bond.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Snakes are also common in Florida’s grasses: Dogs get curious and the snake could retaliate by nipping at their paws.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nip
Verb
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Last week, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that tariffs would shave trillions of dollars off the federal budget deficit.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Aug. 2025
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Per a Vogue cover story earlier this month, the actress’ head was shaved in real time during a scene in the movie.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For Spraggins’ colleague, Josie Wheeler — who still sometimes pinches herself at going from bartending to meetings with nuclear power plant operators — Accenture is a lifetime commitment.—
Andy Tonsing,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Sabalenka only won four returning points in the third set, but that was enough to pinch a single break of serve.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The bots would impersonate beneficiaries, using dates of birth and other information that can be found on the internet, to try to change the beneficiaries’ bank-routing information and steal their benefits.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Through the first week of September, Soto stole three bases.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One of Marron’s sisters hurried in to see what had happened.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
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But fans may want to hurry to buy the dish since the company has not revealed how long the limited-run promotion will last.—
Chloe Mayer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Initially lined up outside, Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones quickly cut inside to beat the right tackle.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
-
On the northeast of the fire, by Sugar Pine Mountain, crews worked in steep, inaccessible terrain to bring containment lines into the natural rock bluff, trying to cut the fire off south of the Wishon Reservoir for the protection of the critical hydroelectric infrastructure.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Namajunas held onto the belt in the rematch in November 2021, defeating Zhang via split decision.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
4 Sep. 2025
-
For investment firms of the ultra wealthy, deal-making held steady in August.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That delay came on the first day that passengers were able to swipe credit cards and ATM cards instead of Clipper cards in its new Tap and Ride system of pay.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
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The companies winning today are those that view payments as strategic capital flow tools, not just portals to swipe.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, the recording studio G-Force Records has come under the ownership of Scooter’s uncle and instead of Aerosmith, the Muppets’ Electric Mayhem must rush to get to their concert on time.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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The three of us leaped from the monsoonmobile as soon as Olbinski put it into park, rushing to the wall overlooking the tarmac and the haboob closing in on us.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Video
'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'?
We're gonna stop you right there
Cite this Entry
“Nip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nip. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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