1
: a strong-scented perennial mint (Nepeta cataria) that has whorls of small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats
2
: something very attractive
Examples of catnip in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His Inflation Reduction Act and electric-vehicle subsidies and environmental regulations are catnip for the green movement.
—
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 11 May 2024
The riverside market town, Totnes, has become a byword for an outdoorsy, artistic community—catnip to the tourists who bunch around the estate agent windows.
—Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 3 May 2024
Robust aircraft with system redundancies are military catnip, further evidenced by the fact that the U.S. Army is investing heavily in Bombardier’s Global platform for surveillance missions.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2024
There’s a lot of work to do in coverage, but his top-tier size and elite speed (4.34 40-yard dash at the combine) are catnip for defensive coaches.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
The film’s sense of scale — the moment when Godzilla stuns an airport terminal full of screaming civilians to silence is one of the most breathtaking in the entire franchise — and interest in the biological realities of how its kaiju work are both catnip for fans.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Gaither’s library of musical series and specials will be catnip to the Up audience, Humbard predicted.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
Such an artist is catnip for organizers, who want nothing more, in these situations, than an arena full of people blissed out on their favorite songs, arms bedecked with blinking LED bracelets, clutching their Chik-fil-A coupons and singing along to 30-year-old singles.
—Preston Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024
The multi-sensory toy crinkles and jingles and keeps cats engaged with a catnip filling that our cat loved.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024
Matthew Continetti, National Review, 11 May 2024
The riverside market town, Totnes, has become a byword for an outdoorsy, artistic community—catnip to the tourists who bunch around the estate agent windows.
—Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 3 May 2024
Robust aircraft with system redundancies are military catnip, further evidenced by the fact that the U.S. Army is investing heavily in Bombardier’s Global platform for surveillance missions.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2024
There’s a lot of work to do in coverage, but his top-tier size and elite speed (4.34 40-yard dash at the combine) are catnip for defensive coaches.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
The film’s sense of scale — the moment when Godzilla stuns an airport terminal full of screaming civilians to silence is one of the most breathtaking in the entire franchise — and interest in the biological realities of how its kaiju work are both catnip for fans.
—Katie Rife, EW.com, 28 Mar. 2024
Gaither’s library of musical series and specials will be catnip to the Up audience, Humbard predicted.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024
Such an artist is catnip for organizers, who want nothing more, in these situations, than an arena full of people blissed out on their favorite songs, arms bedecked with blinking LED bracelets, clutching their Chik-fil-A coupons and singing along to 30-year-old singles.
—Preston Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024
The multi-sensory toy crinkles and jingles and keeps cats engaged with a catnip filling that our cat loved.
—Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'catnip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near catnip
Cite this Entry
“Catnip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/catnip. Accessed 15 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
catnip
noun
cat·nip
-ˌnip 
: a strong-scented herb of the mint family that is especially attractive to cats
Medical Definition
catnip
noun
cat·nip
-ˌnip
variants
also catnep
1
: a strong-scented mint (Nepeta cataria) that has small pale flowers in terminal spikes and contains a substance attractive to cats
called also cataria, catmint
2
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