1
as in shaved
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 stole
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 raced
to proceed or move quickly
I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nipped
Katie Abel,
Footwear News,
26 Sep. 2025
Andrew Zhyvolovych,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
In the end, a ball that nipped back in from Harry Conway, bowling around the wicket, did for Stokes five runs short of his century.
—
Hector Vickers,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
Incumbent Mayor Terry Lynne nipped Jaime Rivas by 25 votes in Saturday's Farmers Branch mayoral runoff, according to final but unofficial returns.
—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
But Sweeney nipped that idea in the bud.
—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
1 June 2026
To prove out the findings in real biology, Schramma stuck his arm back into the fish tank, nipped more leaves, and snapped microscope images of the cells within to measure Elodea’s actual packing fractions.
—
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
In 1968, an overzealous pup nipped a postman delivering mail to Balmoral Castle.
—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Merrimack College was eliminated by North Dakota, Providence College was bounced by Quinnipiac and the University of Connecticut was nipped by Michigan State on Thursday.
—
Barry Scanlon,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
There was also a scuba aesthetic that continued from last season with honkering inflatable coats, cocooning anoraks, and neoprene blazers nipped at the waist that looked like couture life vests and scuba suits.
—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
One standout style, with its elongated pointed nipped toe, is crafted in carbon fiber and galvanized in a car factory.
—
Katie Abel,
Footwear News,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
Whatever the interpretation, unless it's nipped in the bud, it can be magnified by expansion across sites.
—
Andrew Zhyvolovych,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
In the end, a ball that nipped back in from Harry Conway, bowling around the wicket, did for Stokes five runs short of his century.
—
Hector Vickers,
New York Times,
21 June 2026
Incumbent Mayor Terry Lynne nipped Jaime Rivas by 25 votes in Saturday's Farmers Branch mayoral runoff, according to final but unofficial returns.
—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
But Sweeney nipped that idea in the bud.
—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
1 June 2026
To prove out the findings in real biology, Schramma stuck his arm back into the fish tank, nipped more leaves, and snapped microscope images of the cells within to measure Elodea’s actual packing fractions.
—
Quanta Magazine,
4 May 2026
In 1968, an overzealous pup nipped a postman delivering mail to Balmoral Castle.
—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Merrimack College was eliminated by North Dakota, Providence College was bounced by Quinnipiac and the University of Connecticut was nipped by Michigan State on Thursday.
—
Barry Scanlon,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
There was also a scuba aesthetic that continued from last season with honkering inflatable coats, cocooning anoraks, and neoprene blazers nipped at the waist that looked like couture life vests and scuba suits.
—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipped
Adjective
-
The dilemma of a dip becoming too warm becomes a non-issue with a chilled dip keeper.
-
First up, a light and lovely starter course of chilled soup.
Verb
-
Schaffer said Reiner shaved his trademark beard for the sketch, which filmed on November 13, just a month before Rob and Michele were killed inside their home; their son Nick was arrested and charged with the murders.
-
The public-private partnership with the Idaho Transportation Department shaved years off the timeline, with construction that began in early March expected to wrap in December.
Verb
-
The skin still looks smooth, but some changes are visible when pinched.
-
The rope around my left thigh pinched and clawed at the butterflies inked on my skin.
Verb
-
The press release says in total Fleming stole about $450,000 in cash.
-
That's when Brandon Miller made his move and stole not only the win but the show.
Verb
-
Immigrants crowded waiting rooms and spilled into hallways as clerks raced to process around 100 people scheduled for an administrative hearing that morning.
-
The Kansas City Royals raced out to a quick lead against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Adjective
-
When Bill’s older brother Henry (Barry Ward) finds the pianist in numbed solitude in his dingy apartment, Bill has canceled all his upcoming gigs, saying Scotty cannot be replaced.
-
Ingber also notes the numbed response to these strikes from much of the American public, something that, in part, may come from the routine nature of these drone strikes as something that the nation has become desensitized to dropping bombs on enemies.
Verb
-
The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.
-
Potential applications beyond wind energy The researchers believe the manufacturing approach could cut production costs for small wind turbines and help more people use lightweight renewable energy technology.
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.
Cite this Entry
“Nipped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipped. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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