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
Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2024
There’s finally a chill in the air, a breeze in one’s step, and a nip in one’s nips.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 28 Nov. 2024
The Minnesota Vikings ended their undefeated streak last week and found themselves in a two-way tie for the top of the NFC North, with the Green Bay Packers nipping at their heels.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nip 
Noun
However, there’s still just enough fabric to prevent your nips from poking through your clothes, and the flexible underwire prevents any uniboob effect from happening.
—Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2024
There’s finally a chill in the air, a breeze in one’s step, and a nip in one’s nips.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024
Verb
If an issue arose a year ago, it was nipped in the bud in moments.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 28 Nov. 2024
The Minnesota Vikings ended their undefeated streak last week and found themselves in a two-way tie for the top of the NFC North, with the Green Bay Packers nipping at their heels.
—Chris Morris, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for nip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nip
Verb
-
The first clip the star shared was of his hair being partially shaved off from behind, then a video of the front of his forehead with a new, marked line indicating where the transplant would be.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
12 Jan. 2025
-
Get The Recipe 19 of 20 Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup A slow cooker is the trick to shaving off hands-on time for this classic soup.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Reviewers love how flattering the shorts are and note that the fabric has a light compression that shapes and lifts without pinching or squeezing.—
Dana Leigh Smith,
Glamour,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Ashton, whose poem was selected via an online contest in 2022, was pinching herself after registering as a virtual guest with NASA to watch the launch and has her fingers crossed for a successful mission.—
Sal Pizarro,
The Mercury News,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Then the men forced her mother to open the safe, stealing several pieces of jewelry and about $10,000 that was inside, prosecutors said.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The pursuit of Richard started on Interstate 40 that morning, and the bus was stolen from Little Rock the night before, the release states.—
Grant Lancaster,
arkansasonline.com,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Pope took a series of pictures with her phone, her hands shaking, and hurried back around the house and into her apartment.—
Ian Frisch,
Curbed,
9 Jan. 2025
-
Wildfires raged across Southern California on Wednesday, leaving at least two people dead and prompting thousands of evacuations as blazes closed in on Los Angeles neighborhoods like the Pacific Palisades and residents hurried to escape.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Countries that have signed onto the Paris agreement are supposed to update their national climate plans this year, and the Biden administration submitted a more ambitious plan last month of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 percent by 2035.—
Justine Calma,
The Verge,
10 Jan. 2025
-
Despite barely being old enough to attend kindergarten, Cole was already cutting his teeth with a game that some have deemed to be the hardest of all time.—
Patricia Hernandez,
Rolling Stone,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The brothers, represented by defense teams from Miami and New York, were not present for the bail review in Manhattan federal court, as they were being held at a federal detention center in Miami.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
16 Jan. 2025
-
The ceremony is currently still set to be held outdoors.—
Joe Edwards,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Every time a customer swipes a card, a complex web of fees is triggered.—
Robert Day,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
-
Winokur struck out a lot and didn’t walk much, but also smacked 14 homers and swiped 23 bases in 94 games while facing pitchers older than him in 97 percent of his plate appearances.—
Aaron Gleeman,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital but he couldn’t be saved.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Notre Dame gained 116 yards rushing in its 27-24 victory against Penn State, with Leonard accounting for 35 yards.—
Curt Rallo,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Jan. 2025
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 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share