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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nip
Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2025
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
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
Collective action at the global level is necessary to blunt the worst effects of climate change and nip future pandemics in the bud.
—Stacie E. Goddard, Foreign Affairs, 28 July 2025
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
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
-
Lush lumps of rock crab arrived in a flying saucer made of ice and covered with kohlrabi shaved thin as a layer of frost.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
-
To get into character, the actor had to shave his head, wear a combover and adjust his posture to appear nearly a foot shorter in order to capture the American songwriter's physical appearance.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The adjustable waist strap can be extended up to 56 inches for a comfortable fit that doesn’t squeeze or pinch, and the primary pocket is large enough to tuck your boarding pass into without folding it.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Sep. 2025
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There’s the moment Stanton’s Håkon Werle pinches the back of his son’s neck, like a cruel master bringing his dog to heel.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
How can someone steal from you and simply get away with it?—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Two innings later, Martin singled, stole second base and eventually scored the winning run in a ninth-inning comeback victory.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But a ship arrived and everyone hurried aboard without understanding a word of what the greeter was saying.—
Manuel Muñoz,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Some people never even showed, despite me calling them repeatedly to hurry up.—
Jack Hargreaves,
The Dial,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Others have cut bills by a factor of five.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Jobless claims hit their highest level since 2021 last week, adding to recent labor market revisions that have fueled confidence the Fed will cut rates in September.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Republicans hold a strong majority in both chambers of the General Assembly, holding 29 out of 35 seats in the Senate and 81 of 100 seats in the House.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Ellison held second place prior to earnings release Ellison’s rise comes a day after Forbes released its list of the world’s richest people.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What To Know The Liquid Glass interface not only updates the home screen but transforms interactions within apps like Music, where users can now swipe between views instead of tapping.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
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This is a guy who swiped 32 bases a year ago and socked 28 homers two years ago.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Panthers were always going to favor Jones and DJ Wonnum in a pass-rushing rotation.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Paramedics rushed him to the hospital.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 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 16 Sep. 2025.
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