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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in pinches

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in rushes

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

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

Maybe the two can take the nips out on a lovely date to the Wicker 4DX screenings later this month. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 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

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

The apron is built to take a beating—oils and rogue splashes barely register, practically rolling right off the surface.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
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

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
Tasting wristbands are required for Taste of Los Gatos bites and sips.

— Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 17 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

Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon dialed up more blitzes and two-high safety coverages in the second half, switching from a first-half strategy that was full of single-high and some three-man rushes.

— PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
Offensive player of the week Senior quarterback Ethan Gialo rushes for 207 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries during Lakes’ 31-14 Northern Lake County Conference win over Round Lake.

— Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of rushes

Noun

Upon arrival, guests enjoy touches like fresh flowers, a handwritten note from the general manager, and Godiva chocolates in their rooms.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2026
To update the original design, from the spring 1997 couture collection, current Chanel designer Matthieu Blazy added his own touches to the silhouette—reworking it with a sweetheart neckline and a more structured shape.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of touches

Noun

Hotels in the area get in on the fun, too, like the Kennebunkport Inn, which places guests in the center of Dock Square and offers Prelude Tents featuring drinks and DJs.

— Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026
The upshot of this is that George, who works the room in a sharp gray suit, a few tattoos peeking out, has plenty of opportunities to charismatically make things right, shaking hands and clasping shoulders and sending over lull-filling drinks.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of drinks

Browse Nearby Words

nippy

nips

nirvana

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nips. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nips

noun (1)

noun (2)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes