When we talk about nipping something in the bud, we mean to stop it before it has a chance to become a bigger problem. There are several synonym phrases that can be used instead of "nip in the bud" like "cut off at the pass," "quell," "halt," "eliminate," "suppress," "crush," "deter," "terminate," or "eradicate." Each of these synonyms conveys the same urgency to stop the issue immediately before it has a chance to grow and develop into something larger. It is important to stay vigilant and take action quickly to put a stop to something before it escalates, and these synonyms can help express that urgency.