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Definitions

nipping

[nip-ing] / ˈnɪp ɪŋ /
ADJECTIVE
biting
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter bleak harsh penetrating
STRONG
blighting crisp cutting freezing
WEAK
cold raw
Antonyms
STRONGEST
kind mild nice pleasant
WEAK
bland calm sweet
ADJECTIVE
cold
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bitter bleak brisk chilled cool crisp frigid frosty frozen icy intense raw snowy wintry
STRONG
Siberian arctic chill cutting hyperborean icebox keen sharp stinging
WEAK
algid below freezing below zero benumbed biting blasting boreal brumal frore gelid glacial have goose bumps hawkish hiemal iced inclement nippy numbed numbing one-dog night penetrating piercing polar rimy severe shivery sleety snappy two-dog night
Antonyms
STRONGEST
hot mild nice pleasant temperate warm
ADJECTIVE
cool
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chilly frigid frosty refreshing
STRONG
air-conditioned arctic biting chill chilled chilling refrigerated
WEAK
algid coldish frore gelid shivery snappy wintry
Antonyms
STRONGEST
hot warm
WEAK
temperate
ADJECTIVE
shivery
Synonyms
WEAK
Siberian algid arctic below freezing below zero benumbed biting bitter blasting bleak boreal brisk brumal chill chilled chilly cool crisp cutting frigid frore frosty frozen gelid glacial have goose bumps hawkish hiemal hyperborean icebox iced icy inclement intense keen nippy numbed numbing one-dog night penetrating piercing polar raw rimy severe sharp sleety snappy snowy stinging two-dog night wintry
NOUN
pinch
Synonyms
STRONG
compression confinement contraction cramp grasp grasping hurt limitation nip pressure squeeze torment tweak twinge
Antonyms
STRONG
freedom release
WEAK
advantage

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.

Claude-maker Anthropic has OpenAI, Google's Gemini and even Grok from xAI nipping at its heels in the market for professional AI.

From Barron's • Feb. 22, 2026

“For all the success we had this year, we are still nipping at the heels of giants who earned their positions over the last 50 years,” said Hogan.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Microsoft currently holds the rank of the third-largest U.S. company, but can it maintain its lead with Alphabet nipping at its heels?

From MarketWatch • Nov. 19, 2025

Pakistan had clear plans and executed them, constantly challenging England's fragile defences by nipping the ball into the right-handers.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

“Please stay away!” said the robot to the two bears who were now nipping at her heels.

From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.