NIPS Synonyms: 343 Similar and Opposite Words

nips 1 of 3

noun (1)

plural of nip

as in splashes

a very small amount I'll have just a nip of your sandwich

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nips

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural of nip

as in sips

the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time give me just a nip of milk to help me swallow this pill

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nips

3 of 3

verb

present tense third-person singular of nip

as in shaves

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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as in pinches

to squeeze tightly between two surfaces, edges, or points the puppy nipped her hand while playing

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as in steals

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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as in rushes

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 nips

Noun

Grace Geyoro patrols the midfield and constantly nips in for interceptions. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 Expansions, nips, and tucks happened over the years, but the British Colonial design was needing a facelift when Hurricane Irma decimated the island in September 2017. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026 Not even regular nips from a hidden bottle of whiskey in the garage can ease Greg’s self-loathing. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026 As gasoline prices soar and inflation nips at vacation budgets, many travelers may have rethought the prospect of the Great American Road Trip. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026 This lens is made up of 20 elements and two mirrors plus a large-diameter aspherical lens that nips distortion and aberration in the bud. — New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026 Mercifully, Candace nips that potential Harold and Maude situation in the bud, leaving Steenburgen with her dignity intact. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026 The market is doing the Fed’s job Kevin Warsh’s argument for an ultimately lower Fed funds rate may rely on the notion that financial conditions are likely to tighten further on the long end of the yield curve—far outweighing any nips to the base rate the central bank can make. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 27 May 2026 Chief among the products banned are the ubiquitous 50 milliliter bottles known as shooters, shots, nips or airline bottles. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026

Verb

But the teacher nips the conversation in the bud, redirecting everyone’s attention to the lesson of the day. — Boaz Dvir, The Conversation, 14 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nips

Noun

Jazz fusion keyboardist George Duke, however, plays wild splashes of melody on an electric piano in the empty spaces between Waits’s lines.

— Al Shipley, SPIN, 9 Oct. 2026
Topping up the battery takes 90 minutes, according to Shift Robotics, and an IP54 rating means the shoes shrug off splashes but would not enjoy a swim.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of splashes

Noun

The hotel’s second-floor reception area has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the beach, a pool table that is perpetually in play, and couches for gathering over morning coffee and evening sips.

— Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2026
As Venice wraps up and festivalgoers take their last bites of pasta and sips of spritzes, here are takeaways from the floating city.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of sips

Verb

There will be a moment in the frenzy at the Estadio Azteca, probably as the teams take to the field or the first ball is kicked in anger, when Darren Thompson pinches himself to be witnessing all this first-hand.

— Rob Tanner, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Dad pinches my cheek between his first two fingers with a soppy look in his eyes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

Definition of pinches

Verb

But for all the resort’s creature comforts, nature still steals the show.

— Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
The usual answer to this has been to rely on nuclear power to make it through the night, but there is an alternative that steals a page from Earth's playbook.

— David Szondy October 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of steals

Verb

By Saturday, high temperatures will plummet down to the low 80s and upper 70s degrees or lower across a majority of the Central Valley as a breeze rushes in and fall finally says hello.

— Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 5 Oct. 2026
As the industry rushes to try to understand how to capitalize on that momentum, Parsons is already looking ahead.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of rushes

Noun

Most memorable to me were the little touches throughout my stay, like the chocolates left in my room at turndown service — not on the pillow, but on the bedside table, on a glass dish covered with a glass cloche.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
To transport us to this emotionally sticky place, the Melbourne singer transitions into a syrupy, mature sound, entangling some of his most reflective lyrics to date with ’90s house, trip-hop, shoegaze, and touches of drum 'n' bass.

— Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of touches

Noun

Expect to see rare bottles pulled from the shelves and all manner of weird and wonderful concoctions offered up from the menu and from their encyclopedic knowledge of drinks.

— Condé Nast, cntraveler.com, 13 Oct. 2026
People find collaborators over drinks, and someone reluctant to raise a hand in an auditorium might ask a question after a little social lubrication.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of drinks

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nips

nirvana

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Style

“Nips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nips. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nips

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

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