Definitions

chipping

VERB

knock a piece out of

Synonyms

STRONGEST

chop crack hack nick splinter whack

STRONG

break chisel clip crumble damage flake fragment gash hackle hew incise notch shape shear slash slice sliver snick snip split whittle

WEAK

crack off cut away cut off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fix mend

STRONG

build combine increase join put together

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

During the previous, uncrewed Artemis mission, the Orion craft’s heat shield didn’t perform as expected, with protective material on the device chipping off.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Pressure built up, which cracked the heat shield and ultimately resulted in larger pieces chipping off during the final reentry.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

You also need to superproof your financial future before chipping away at funds that are, I hope, continuing to make money for you.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

The agency has seen a decrease in funding since 2011, with inflation chipping away at a largely stagnant budget.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

She spent every morning weeding and watering the garden, and every afternoon chipping away at the mukwa trunk.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer