adjective
-
piercing; keen
a biting wind
-
sarcastic; incisive
a biting comment
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
Explanation
Anything biting is sharp and painful, like the biting wind off that rolls off a frozen lake on a blustery day. A biting dog has the tendency, literally, to bite with its sharp teeth. A more common, figurative way to use this adjective is to mean either "painfully cold" or "cruel." So there's the biting cold of January in Minnesota, but there's also the biting remark of someone whose words are just as agonizing.
Vocabulary lists containing biting
Chill Out! Synonyms for "Cold"
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List 3
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Cold
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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.
If CPI data show a biting price-spike, that will be among the first major red flags for the U.S. economy, which could trigger a spiral in stocks as long as the conflict stretches on.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
There will be no further information, only biting intrigue.
From Salon • Apr. 3, 2026
Mosquitoes are biting into Southern Californians’ ankles a little too early in the year.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
Cold air from the north or east can still bring frost, snow, and biting winds, while sunny, mild days can appear during settled spells of high pressure.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
When Molly admitted to biting one, Clara bit back a retort.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
