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Synonyms

biting

American  
[bahy-ting] / ˈbaɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. nipping; smarting; keen.

    biting cold; a biting sensation on the tongue.

  2. cutting; sarcastic.

    a biting remark.
    Synonyms:
    scathing, mordant, caustic, trenchant, incisive
biting British  
/ ˈbaɪtɪŋ /

adjective

  1. piercing; keen

    a biting wind

  2. sarcastic; incisive

    a biting comment
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • bitingly adverb
  • bitingness noun
  • nonbiting adjective
  • unbiting adjective

Etymology

Origin of biting

First recorded in 1250–1300, biting is from the Middle English word bitynge. See bite, -ing 2

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.

They ate for a few minutes without talking, the only sounds the crunch of biting into bread and the scraping noise of forks against plates as they wound bites of spaghetti.

From Literature

“Do you think these are Wonders?” she asked, biting her lip.

From Literature

It didn’t help that I couldn’t stop biting my nails.

From Literature

It made headlines for biting someone and briefly disappearing.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the 18 months since the collapse of Sheikh Hasina's government, Bangladesh has endured political turmoil but also biting economic pain -- with many hoping for a rebound under new leadership after elections on February 12.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.