nipping 1 of 2

adjective

ˈni-piŋ How to pronounce nipping (audio)
Definition of nippingnext
1
as in freezing
having a low or subnormal temperature a group of campers waking up to the nipping air of a Rocky Mountain morning

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2
as in chilling
uncomfortably cool better wear a windbreaker if you're going sailing in this nipping wind

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nipping

2 of 2

verb

present participle of nip
1
as in shaving
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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2
as in pinching
to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the puppy nipped her hand while playing

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3
as in stealing
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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4
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly I'll just nip off to the corner store for some milk

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Example 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 nipping
Adjective
The Supra's sharp handling and responsive powertrains, however, mean its happier nipping apexes than long highway slogs. — Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, 21 June 2023 But recent editorials in The People’s Daily—the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship publication—continued to call on China’s population to stick with its approach of staying vigilant and nipping outbreaks in the bud. — Sha Hua, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022 Likewise, her rep handled the announcements about the Bidens' rambunctious rescue dog, Major, who's been involved in several nipping incidents and has to undergo off-site behavior training. — USA Today, 27 Apr. 2021 The nipping incident comes a few weeks after the dog caused a minor injury to someone else at the White House. — Tim Perry, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2021 Del Mar extended its current winning streak to a season-best three in a row by first nipping Lincoln and then nudging San Jose 48-46. — Dave Mendonca, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2017
Verb
With first-round pick Monroe Freeling no longer nipping at his heels, Walker has been able to settle in at left tackle and make the most of his opportunities. — Mike Kaye july 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026 But over the next 18 months, Poolside largely disappeared from view, while OpenAI and Anthropic ballooned to nearly trillion-dollar valuations with a crop of Chinese labs building open source models nipping at their heels. — Iain Martin, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Rodri was everywhere — nipping in cleverly to intercept a dangerous Argentina pass near the halfway line, arriving right on time to provide a passing option to a team-mate in trouble and surging forward to set up a dangerous Spain attack. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 19 July 2026 Until then, though, college football belongs to the Big Ten with the SEC nipping at their heels, leaving the ACC in a distant third place. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026 Grand Junction’s highs of around 104 degrees on Saturday and near 106 degrees on Sunday are nipping on the heels of the city’s all-time record of 107 degrees. — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 July 2026 Of course, Qualcomm is also at Computex, and its Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme could well be nipping at the N1X's heels before long. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 30 May 2026 The series builds to his final French Open in 2024 when Father Time was nipping at his heels, navicular, hip, back and everything else. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 May 2026 Exactly one year after nipping Marist in the state finals at Duluth’s Cecil Morris Field, the Blessed Trinity Titans did it again in an identical manner, edging Marist 1-0 in the GHSA Class 4A girls’ soccer state championship game on Friday night. — Jeff Gable, AJC.com, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nipping
  1. freezing
  2. chilling
  3. shaving
  4. pinching
  5. stealing
  6. hurrying
  7. cold
  8. chilly
Adjective
  • Above the freezing level, droplets become ice crystals whose collisions separate electrical charges, as in an ordinary thunderstorm.
    — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed, which grows best in cooler climates, but the butterflies can’t tolerate freezing temperatures.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Definition of freezing
Adjective
  • The exhibit's visitors can get a chilling feel for the time, with full scale recreations of the annex rooms where Anne and her family hid from the Nazis.
    — Marie Saavedra, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • How to Pack a Cooler for Longer-Lasting Ice Start by pre-chilling the cooler and all the food and drinks before packing them.
    — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 30 July 2026
Definition of chilling
Verb
  • Try roasting it with olive oil and salt, sautéing it and adding it to a pasta or grain bowl, or shaving it with a vegetable peeler and adding the raw strips to a salad for some crunch.
    — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 20 July 2026
  • And while the results last much longer than shaving, each session typically takes more time, especially when treating larger areas like the legs.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 17 July 2026
Definition of shaving
Verb
  • Other students join in by hitting, punching and pinching the boy.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 24 July 2026
  • While the outcome may also be a welcome aesthetic change, the motivation is often functional—relief from discomfort during movement, chafing during exercise, pinching in clothing, pain with intimacy, and recurrent infections.
    — Anonymous, Allure, 23 July 2026
Definition of pinching
Verb
  • The film revolves around a crew of motorcycle thieves who begin stealing priceless antiquities around the world.
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The ticket Lockhart is accused of stealing had a prize value of $2,600, per the affidavit.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of stealing
Verb
  • Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
  • No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of hurrying
Adjective
  • It was instead caused by cold air plummeting to the ground from the upper levels of a passing thunderstorm, experts says.
    — Mark Price July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • For lunch, head outside to The Pocket pool bar and lounge for fish tacos and a cold beer.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • The chilliest option on this list, ice diving at Ultima Hotel Courchevel is a thrilling, health-boosting, and mood-enhancing water experience.
    — Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • This weekend, daytime highs in Eureka will be in the mid-to-upper 60s — cooler even than San Francisco, so famed for its chilly summers.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of chilly

Browse Nearby Words

nippiness
nipping
nippy
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Cite this Entry

“Nipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nipping. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nipping

Nglish: Translation of nipping for Spanish Speakers

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