It's quite nippy today, so take your coat with you.
Source: tatoeba (3661353)
Nippy
/ˈnɪpi/
Synonyms for "nippy" (88 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: frosty, algid, arctic, below zero, biting.
- Sentence evidence is available for nippy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "nippy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "nippy"
Keep "nippy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "nippy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "nippy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "nippy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesanalytical descriptoratmospheric conditionbehavioral attributedescriptive adjectiveevaluative descriptorintellectual qualityphysical attributequality descriptortemperature descriptor
More specific
9 entriesbiting coldbiting critiquechilly eveningclever rebuttalfrosty airnimble gaitrapid movementsharp remarkswift reflex
Collocations
6 entriesnippy breezenippy pacenippy remarknippy replynippy weathernippy wind
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
14 total sentences available.
The air was nippy, though a beautiful spring sun shone.
Source: tatoeba (8589790)
The vehicle is very nippy and well suited to city traffic.
Source: tatoeba (9440272)
The jaunty 1969 crime caper about the cockney casanova of crime who pulls off a bullion heist in Turin during an England versus Italy football match using three nippy Mini Coopers—red, white and blue—speaks of a forgotten age in England[…].
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "nippy"?
Closest matches include frosty, algid, arctic, below zero, biting.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "nippy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.