Definitions

chipping

VERB

knock a piece out of

Synonyms

STRONGEST

chop crack hack nick splinter whack

STRONG

break chisel clip crumble damage flake fragment gash hackle hew incise notch shape shear slash slice sliver snick snip split whittle

WEAK

crack off cut away cut off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fix mend

STRONG

build combine increase join put together

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

chipping

Vanderbilt trailed by 17 points midway through the third quarter when they started chipping away at a comeback.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

Morris appeared to have scored earlier in the half, getting loose on a breakaway before chipping the ball over Galaxy keeper JT Marcinkowski.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Taking the slower route of chipping away at your debt with your income, rather than your retirement savings, is the wiser option here.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026

Those gains are chipping away at Iran’s leverage.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

She got down on her hands and knees and started chipping away at the earth with the tiny shovel.

From "Between Shades of Gray" by Ruta Sepetys