bite 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bitenext
1
as in edge
a harsh or sharp quality the fall winds had a real bite

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mouthful
a small piece or quantity of food had only a bite to eat before rushing off

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness weather with a bite that suggested winter was right around the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bite

2 of 2

verb

ˈbīt How to pronounce bite (audio)
informal + sometimes impolite
as in to suck
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory man, that really bites that you have to work on the weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bite
Noun
Travelers are increasingly questioning why a quick bite at the airport can come with a restaurant-level price tag, according to several reports. — Kelly McGreal , Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Every instrument gains a bit more texture that elevates them, especially the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and fiddle, and the cymbals and rimshots have a great bite. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
Nor will a mythic wolf named Sköll chase the sun through the sky, catching it and biting it. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 10 Aug. 2026 The dog bit the 2-year-old in the leg, leaving a deep puncture wound, according to the affidavit. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bite
  1. edge
  2. mouthful
  3. chill
  4. suck
  5. bitterness
  6. taste
  7. acidity
  8. nibble
Noun
  • The scientists used cutting-edge airborne laser scanning technology and found hundreds of previously unknown earthworks.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The edges of your lawn and garden provide the perfect habitat for these plants, while fences and retaining walls can give support to growing poison ivy vines.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Delight in rituals that engage the senses, like slowly moving a mouthful of Champagne around your tongue, or lighting palo santo in the dark and letting its smoke envelop you.
    — Goth Shakira, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • As the snakes leap, jump and slither in a bid to escape, Kennedy manages to grab one in each hand, narrowly dodging their attempts to snag a mouthful of his skin.
    — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Definition of mouthful
Noun
  • Symptoms can also include chills, nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting.
    — Mark Strassmann, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, according to the CDC.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of chill
Verb
  • Severe droughts have also sucked the water from Europe’s major rivers, particularly the Seine, the Rhine and the Danube, threatening the continent’s energy supply.
    — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • That’s because the high heat can cause color transfer over time or suck up the vibrancy of the white shade.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of suck
Noun
  • Little united the Syrian rebels during the country’s civil war from 2011 to 2024 outside of their hatred of Assad, and Damascus has sought to cultivate this memory of bitterness to keep the country’s disparate groups together.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The tea supplies tannins and bitterness while maple and orange recreate that familiar balance of sweet, bitter and citrus.
    — Ryan Brennan August 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • After the couple’s differing tastes in music came to light, Miller asked who picks the music in the car.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The result was a fresh, antibiotic-free bird that’s marinated in a signature brine before being fried in rice bran oil, which co-founder Aaron Noveshen says gives it a lighter taste and better crunch.
    — Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of taste
Noun
  • Notes like passionfruit, mango, and coconut can add creamy texture to a fragrance, while notes of blackcurrant, black cherry, and berries bring acidity, for example.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Its high acidity and bright red fruit cut through the rich texture of the baked salmon.
    — Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of acidity
Noun
  • Chipmunks dig in planters to bury food or nibble on bulbs and foliage.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 July 2026
  • And the consequences of a curious nibble can range from vomiting to emergency surgery to death.
    — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Definition of nibble

Phrases Containing bite

Browse Nearby Words

bitchy
bite
bite (at)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bite. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bite

Nglish: Translation of bite for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All