biting

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adjective bit·ing \ ˈbī-tiŋ \

Definition of biting

:having the power to bite

a biting wind

; especially :able to grip and impress deeply

a biting wit

—

bitingly

play \-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

See biting defined for English-language learners

See biting defined for kids

Examples of biting in a Sentence

a biting wind that only the toughest football fans were willing to endure
the biting comments by the popular girls about the new kid in class

Recent Examples of biting from the Web

To drive home the point, Kessel even added a biting caption to his Instagram post.

— hemal jhaveri, For The Win, "Phil Kessel is eating hot dogs out of the Stanley Cup," 14 Aug. 2017
Aaron's description of Tom as the Devil is funny and moving, but the original script had a subplot that would have made Aaron's Satanic analogy more biting, and less about Aaron's heartbreak.

— douglas perry, OregonLive.com, "Holly Hunter classic 'Broadcast News' is 30 and better than ever, earns hat tip from Netflix hit 'GLOW'," 12 July 2017
But some of the most biting comments came from fellow Republicans who condemned the president’s morning rant.

— karen mizoguchi, PEOPLE.com, "'He Attacks Women': Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough Return to Air After Trump's Personal Attacks," 30 June 2017
There was, for example, the California squirrel that went on a biting spree—attacking at least eight people last year.

— adrienne lafrance, The Atlantic, "When Squirrels Attack," 21 June 2017
Those comments came after similarly biting remarks from the Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu.

— alison smale, New York Times, "Germany to Withdraw Forces From Incirlik Base in Turkey," 7 June 2017
As controversial as Waters' Desert Trip performance was, his most biting commentaries were left on the cutting room floor.

— jeff slate, Esquire, "Roger Waters Won't Hide His Disdain for Donald Trump," 24 May 2017
Among comedians, one of the most biting forms of humor remains the genre of schoolyard-style disses – rhetorical battles of wit and humor that up the ante for often lewd, personal taunts.

— peter grier, The Christian Science Monitor, "Is edgier political comedy making America worse?," 12 May 2017
Here of some of his more biting quotes, most of which appear directed at Trump as well as in defense of Obamacare: ***

— editors, USA TODAY, "From Obama’s JFK Library speech, the 8 most biting quotes about Trump and Republicans," 8 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biting.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of biting

14th century

biting Synonyms

Synonyms

cutting, bitter, keen, penetrating, piercing, raw, sharp, shrewd, smarting, stinging

Related Words

brisk, invigorating, nippy, snappy; needlelike, prickly, tingling; caustic, corrosive

Near Antonyms

balmy, gentle, mild, soothing

BITING Defined for English Language Learners

biting

play

adjective

Definition of biting for English Language Learners

: unpleasantly cold
: having a sharply critical and often clever quality

BITING Defined for Kids

biting

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adjective bit·ing \ ˈbī-tiŋ \

Definition of biting for Students

:causing intense discomfort

It was cold, bleak, biting weather …
—Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Learn More about biting

See words that rhyme with biting Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for biting Spanish Central: Translation of biting Nglish: Translation of biting for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of biting for Arabic speakers

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biting

Definition of biting

bitingly

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Examples of biting in a Sentence

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First Known Use of biting

biting Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

BITING Defined for English Language Learners

biting

Definition of biting for English Language Learners

BITING Defined for Kids

biting

Definition of biting for Students

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