Nippy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈni-pē/ nip·py

Meaning & Definition of Nippy

Nippy (adjective)

  1. marked by a tendency to nip
  2. brisk, quick, or nimble in movement, snappy
  3. pungent, sharp

Nippy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having a low or subnormal temperature

    "bring a jacket, as it's a little nippy outside"

    similar: algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, cold, coldish, cool, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, gelid, glacial, ice-cold, icy, nipping, numbing, polar, shivery, snappy, wintry
    related: cryogenic, subfreezing, subzero, ultracold, cutting, keen, penetrating, piercing, sharp, bracing, brisk, crisp, invigorating, rigorous, chilled, cooled, frosted, frozen, iced, refrigerated, unheated
    opposite: ardent, blazing, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, glowing, hot, igneous, molten, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, seething, sizzling, sultry, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, warming, white-hot
    near: lukewarm, tepid, heated, overheated, reheated, warmed, snug, toasty, warm, feverish, flushed, inflamed, canicular, equatorial, muggy, steamy, summery, tropical

  2. having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor

    "blue cheese is a little too nippy for my taste"

    similar: pungent, sharp, strong, tangy
    related: acid, acidic, acrid, bitter, harsh, gingery, hot, peppery, piquant, spicy, tart, zesty, zingy, putrid, rancid, rank, skunky, acute, keen, animating, energizing, exciting, galvanizing, invigorating, provocative, appetizing, delectable, delicious, palatable, toothsome, flavorful, savory, tasty, aromatic, redolent
    opposite: bland, mild, smooth
    near: aged, mellow, ripe, gentle, soft, flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless, zestless, dilute, thin, watery, weak

  3. moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

    "racing around the neighborhood on a nippy scooter"

    similar: blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, quick, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy, at speed (chiefly British)
    related: expeditious, prompt, ready, accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed, breathtaking, energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous, high-speed, rush, ultrafast, ultrarapid
    opposite: slow
    near: crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky, slowish, sluggish, unhurried, deliberate, leisurely, measured, dilatory, late, tardy, ultraslow

  4. uncomfortably cool

    "a nippy wind that chilled parade watchers to the bone"

    similar: bitter, bleak, chill, chilling, chilly, nipping, raw, sharp
    related: bracing, brisk, crisp, invigorating, rigorous, snappy, arctic, cold, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, glacial, ice-cold, icy, numbing, polar, shivery, wintry, subfreezing, subzero, frore, frosted, frozen, iced, refrigerated, unheated
    near: balmy, warm, lukewarm, tepid, heated, warmed

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Nippy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Nippy:

Chiefly British: at speed
algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, cold, coldish, cool, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, gelid, glacial, ice-cold, icy, nipping, numbing, polar, shivery, snappy, wintry, pungent, sharp, strong, tangy, blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Nippy

Words with the opposite meaning of Nippy:

ardent, blazing, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid, fiery, glowing, hot, igneous, molten, piping hot, red-hot, roasting, scalding, scorching, searing, seething, sizzling, sultry, sweltering, torrid, ultrahot, warming, white-hot, bland, mild, smooth, slow

Related Words for Nippy

cryogenic, subfreezing, subzero, ultracold, cutting, keen, penetrating, piercing, bracing, crisp, invigorating, rigorous, chilled, cooled, frosted, frozen, iced, refrigerated, unheated, acid, acidic, acrid, harsh, gingery, peppery, piquant, spicy, tart, zesty, zingy

Near Antonyms of Nippy

lukewarm, tepid, heated, overheated, reheated, warmed, snug, toasty, warm, feverish, flushed, inflamed, canicular, equatorial, muggy, steamy, summery, tropical, aged, mellow, ripe, gentle, soft, flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless, zestless, dilute

Word Forms of Nippy

Inflections: nippier, nippiest

Derived words: nippily (adverb), nippiness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Nippy

First known use: 1575

Frequently Asked Questions about Nippy

What does "Nippy" mean?

"Nippy" means marked by a tendency to nip. As an adjective, it is defined as: marked by a tendency to nip. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Nippy"?

Other words for "Nippy" include algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, cold and coldish. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Nippy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Nippy"?

There are 120 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Nippy". Common alternatives include algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, cold, coldish, cool and coolish.

What is the opposite of "Nippy"?

Antonyms of "Nippy" include ardent, blazing, boiling, broiling, burning, fervent, fervid and fiery. Near antonyms include lukewarm, tepid, heated and overheated.

How do you use "Nippy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Nippy" in a sentence: "bring a jacket, as it's a little nippy outside"; "blue cheese is a little too nippy for my taste"; "racing around the neighborhood on a nippy scooter".

Is "Nippy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Nippy" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Nippy"?

"Nippy" is pronounced /ˈni-pē/ and divided into syllables as nip·py.

What is the origin of the word "Nippy"?

First known use: 1575.