biting

adjective

bit·​ing ˈbī-tiŋ 

: having the power to bite

a biting wind

especially : able to grip and impress deeply

a biting wit

bitingly

ˈbī-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

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

Examples of biting in a Sentence

a biting wind that only the toughest football fans were willing to endure

the biting comments by the pundits about the government's inaction

Recent Examples on the Web

During the taping of a recent Netflix special, Kyle Dunnigan impersonated Musk onstage in a biting parody—the audience laughed, but Rogan sat mostly silent, avoiding eye contact, appearing unwilling to signal disloyalty to the tech mogul. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

Its biting satire is complimented by engaging mechanics like the stratagems. —David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024

The word itself began life as a British colonial term, probably a corruption of kutu, a Malay word for lice and other biting insects. —Bruce Handy, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025

But the two-hour, 40-minute script by Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan is smart, biting, playful and swift-paced. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing biting

• biting louse
• biting midge
• crib biting

Rhymes for biting

• blighting
• citing
• fighting
• lighting
• righting
• sighting
• siting
• slighting
• whiting
• writing
• alighting
• backbiting

Kids Definition

biting

adjective

bit·​ing ˈbīt-iŋ 

: causing bodily or mental distress : sharp, cutting

biting wit

a biting cold