biting

[bahy-ting]

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

/ ˈbaɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. piercing; keen

   a biting wind

2. sarcastic; incisive

   a biting comment

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of biting¹

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

Example Sentences

The German car sector is in crisis, faced with the costs of ramping up investment into EVs as well as increasingly fierce Chinese competition that is biting into sales.

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Housing costs, car payments and insurance premiums have been biting deeper into wallets.

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I think some of the young ones are biting off a lot more than I think I could even chew with this experience.

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Before long she had corralled her two brothers into an energetic game of tygers, complete with snarls and pretend biting.

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“No matter what terrifying and bloodcurdling events unfold during the séance, you must stay perfectly still and quiet as mice. No howling! No barking! No biting!”

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Related Words

• acerbic 
• bitter 
• caustic 
• incisive 
• mordant 
• scathing 
• sharp 
• stinging www.thesaurus.com
• trenchant 
• withering