nippy
adjective
nip·py ˈni-pē 
nippier; nippiest
1
: marked by a tendency to nip
a nippy dog
2
: brisk, quick, or nimble in movement : snappy
a nippy boat
nippy tennis players
3
: pungent, sharp
A mixed salad and a nippy potato salad.
Caryl Stern
Caryl Stern4
: chilly
a nippy day
nippy breeze
nippily
ˈni-pə-lē
adverb nippiness
ˈni-pē-nəs
noun 
Synonyms
- 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
- wintery
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
bring a jacket, as it's a little nippy outside blue cheese is a little too nippy for my taste
Recent Examples on the Web Though the weather isn’t nippy yet, September signals a slower tempo on many hot-spot isles, even after three months of travel frenzy. Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Despite the full moon, what's best about the Perseids is they can be enjoyed during summer's warmth, unlike the often-nippy nights during the Leonids of November or Geminids of December. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2022 But for now, when nights get nippy, keep this supersoft alpaca throw on hand. Bon Appétit, 26 Apr. 2022 Sunny skies and nippy winds are enveloping the Pharmalot campus, where the official mascot is itching to stroll through town and the sounds of the street are wafting through our windows. Ed Silverman, STAT, 10 Dec. 2021 Some of Mexico's best waves pound the breezy Baja Peninsula, but waters are quite nippy here in the winter months. Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2021 Roasted nuts and apple crumble manage to sneak in, and nippy bitter finish like tamarind closes things out. Felipe Schrieberg, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021 Breezes from the southwest are a bit nippy at times, sustained around 10 mph with some gusts over 20 mph. Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2021 Today will be nippy with a wind chill dipping into single digits at times. Paul Douglas, Star Tribune, 18 Jan. 2021 See More
Andrew Nelson, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Despite the full moon, what's best about the Perseids is they can be enjoyed during summer's warmth, unlike the often-nippy nights during the Leonids of November or Geminids of December. Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Aug. 2022 But for now, when nights get nippy, keep this supersoft alpaca throw on hand. Bon Appétit, 26 Apr. 2022 Sunny skies and nippy winds are enveloping the Pharmalot campus, where the official mascot is itching to stroll through town and the sounds of the street are wafting through our windows. Ed Silverman, STAT, 10 Dec. 2021 Some of Mexico's best waves pound the breezy Baja Peninsula, but waters are quite nippy here in the winter months. Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2021 Roasted nuts and apple crumble manage to sneak in, and nippy bitter finish like tamarind closes things out. Felipe Schrieberg, Forbes, 1 Sep. 2021 Breezes from the southwest are a bit nippy at times, sustained around 10 mph with some gusts over 20 mph. Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2021 Today will be nippy with a wind chill dipping into single digits at times. Paul Douglas, Star Tribune, 18 Jan. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
nippy
adjective
nip·py ˈni-pē
nippier; nippiest
: chilly
a nippy day
nippy
adjective
1
as in chilly
having a low or subnormal temperature bring a jacket, as it's a little nippy outside Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- chilly
- cold
- freezing
- frigid
- icy
- chill
- cool
- frosty
- arctic
- brisk
- wintry
- shivery
- coolish
- nipping
- bitter
- snappy
- polar
- glacial
- coldish
- chilled
- wintery
- cooled
- numbing
- algid
- gelid
- crisp
- ice-cold
- bone-chilling
- subfreezing
- subzero
- cryogenic
- penetrating
- invigorating
- piercing
- sharp
- bracing
- iced
- frozen
- cutting
- keen
- unheated
- ultracold
- rigorous
- frosted
- refrigerated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hot
- fiery
- sweltering
- sultry
- warming
- scorching
- torrid
- warm
- sizzling
- blazing
- boiling
- tepid
- ardent
- broiling
- fervent
- searing
- lukewarm
- burning
- molten
- fervid
- seething
- scalding
- igneous
- heated
- roasting
- glowing
- warmed
- overheated
- toasty
- snug
- ultrahot
- muggy
- reheated
- feverish
- white-hot
- red-hot
- tropical
- piping hot
- inflamed
- steamy
- equatorial
- summery
- flushed
- enflamed
- canicular
2
as in spicy
having a powerfully stimulating odor or flavor blue cheese is a little too nippy for my taste Synonyms & Similar Words
- spicy
- pungent
- tangy
- strong
- delicious
- hot
- sharp
- acidic
- acid
- peppery
- zesty
- zingy
- acrid
- harsh
- piquant
- gingery
- aromatic
- bitter
- tart
- invigorating
- acute
- skunky
- exciting
- tasty
- toothsome
- provocative
- putrid
- energizing
- delectable
- flavorful
- appetizing
- palatable
- keen
- redolent
- rancid
- galvanizing
- animating
- savory
- rank
- savoury
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mild
- smooth
- soft
- mellow
- gentle
- bland
- ripe
- aged
- flat
- thin
- weak
- insipid
- tasteless
- watery
- dilute
- flavorless
- savorless
- zestless
3
as in brisk
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed racing around the neighborhood on a nippy scooter Synonyms & Similar Words
- brisk
- rapid
- fast
- quick
- galloping
- swift
- zippy
- hot
- speedy
- rattling
- snappy
- flying
- blistering
- hasty
- lightning
- hurried
- whirlwind
- fleet
- fleet-footed
- breathless
- dizzy
- breakneck
- at speed
- splitting
- accelerated
- rapid-fire
- vigorous
- rushed
- ready
- expeditious
- strong
- energetic
- quickened
- prompt
- strenuous
- rush
- breathtaking
- hastened
- ultrafast
- high-speed
- ultrarapid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- sluggish
- pokey
- languid
- poky
- unhurried
- crawling
- leisurely
- plodding
- dragging
- lingering
- laggard
- deliberate
- dallying
- slowish
- late
- tardy
- dilatory
- measured
- dillydallying
- dawdling
- poking
- ultraslow
4
as in chill
uncomfortably cool a nippy wind that chilled parade watchers to the bone Synonyms & Similar Words
- chilly
- chill
- chilling
- bitter
- cold
- brisk
- frigid
- bleak
- icy
- freezing
- nipping
- sharp
- crisp
- raw
- arctic
- frosty
- snappy
- invigorating
- wintry
- coolish
- shivery
- bracing
- glacial
- polar
- rigorous
- wintery
- subfreezing
- subzero
- numbing
- iced
- ice-cold
- unheated
- frozen
- frosted
- frore
- refrigerated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- warm
- balmy
- lukewarm
- tepid
- heated
- warmed
- prettifier
- prettifiers
- prettifies
- prettify
- prettifying
- prettilier
- prettiliest
- prettily
- prettiness
- prettinesses
- pretty
- pretty (up)
- pretty as a picture
- pretty boy
- pretty boys
- pretty much
- pretty Nancy
- pretty near
- pretty near/nearly
- pretty nearly
- pretty up
- pretty well
- pretty-by-night
- pretty-pretty
- prettyface