Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

bite

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of bite

1 a harsh or sharp quality
  • The soup has a peppery bite.
Synonyms of bite

acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bitterness, edge, harshness, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartness
Words Related to bite

ginger, punch, spice, tang

raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol

cattiness, maliciousness

pointedness, thorniness
Near Antonyms of bite

gentleness, kindliness
Antonyms of bite

mildness, softness
2 a small piece or quantity of food
  • had only a bite to eat before rushing off
Synonyms of bite

morsel, mouthful, nibble, nugget, taste, tidbit (also titbit)
Words Related to bite

nosh, snack

appetizer, canapé, hors d'oeuvre

bit, chew, crumb, dab, dribble, driblet, fleck, hint, mote, nubbin, particle, pinch, scrap, scruple, shred, smidgen (also smidgeon), snip, snippet, speck, spot, sprinkling, suspicion, tittle, touch, trace
3 an uncomfortable degree of coolness
  • weather with a bite that suggested winter was right around the corner
Synonyms of bite

bitterness, bleakness, chill, chilliness, nip, nippiness, rawness, sharpness
Words Related to bite

briskness, crispness

coldness, frigidity, frigidness, frostiness, gelidity, iciness, wintriness

cold, freeze, snap
Near Antonyms of bite

balminess, warmness, warmth

heat, hotness, sultriness

Learn More about bite

  1. See words that rhyme with bite Dictionary: Definition of bite Medical Dictionary: Definition of bite Spanish Central: Translation of bite Nglish: Translation of bite for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bite for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up bite? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games