Dictionary
Thesaurus
Medical
Scrabble®
Spanish Central
Browse DictionaryBrowse Thesaurus
Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android
Games
Word of the Day
Video
Blog: Words at Play
My Faves
Dictionary

nippy

adjective nip·py \ˈni-pē\

: somewhat cold

: able to move quickly

nip·pi·ernip·pi·est

Full Definition of NIPPY

1
:  marked by a tendency to nip <a nippy dog>
2
:  brisk, quick, or nimble in movement :  snappy
3
:  pungent, sharp
4
:  chilly, chilling <a nippy day>
— nip·pi·ly \ˈni-pə-lē\ adverb
— nip·pi·ness \ˈni-pē-nəs\ noun
See nippy defined for English-language learners
See nippy defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT

First Known Use of NIPPY

1575

Related to NIPPY

Synonyms
algid, arctic, bitter, bone-chilling, chill, chilly, coldish, cool, coolish, freezing, frigid, frosty, gelid, glacial, ice-cold, icy, nipping, cold, numbing, polar, shivery, snappy, wintry (also wintery)
Antonyms
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
NIPPY Defined for Kids

nippy

adjective nip·py \ˈni-pē\
nip·pi·ernip·pi·est

Definition of NIPPY for Kids

:  chilly <a nippy day>

Learn More About NIPPY

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: ni priPrevious Word in the Dictionary: nipponizeAll Words Near: nippy
ADVERTISEMENT
10 Charming Words for Nasty People
Put-downs with flair
Learn More
When "Literally" isn't, well, literal
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Watch Now
Know what this is?
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Go Play
Fear of cats?
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears
Learn More
Join Us
Merriam-Webster
on Facebook
Merriam-Webster
on Twitter
Bookstore: Digital and Print
Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.
See All
Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries