nipping

[nip-ing]

adjective

1. sharp or biting, as cold.

2. sarcastic; caustic.

nipping

/ ˈnɪpɪŋ /

adjective

1. sharp and biting

   a nipping wind

2. sarcastic; bitter

Other Word Forms

• nippingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of nipping¹

First recorded in 1540–50; nip ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

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

Read more on MarketWatch

To all appearances, the trio of barking, nipping, squirrel-chasing imps had been raised by wolves, and this was why they were not, strictly speaking, ordinary children.

Read more on Literature

Because Jofra Archer has that angle of nipping back towards the stumps, can he nip one away?

Read more on BBC

They harassed the poor puffin, nipping at his tail and his wings, and finally they grabbed his fish and sent him tumbling into the sea.

Read more on Literature

Ratings-wise it is nipping at the heels of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bitter 
• bleak 
• brisk 
• chilled 
• cool 
• crisp 
• frigid 
• frosty 
• frozen 
• icy 
• intense 
• raw 
• snowy 
• wintry