BITING Synonyms: 108 Similar and Opposite Words

biting 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbī-tiŋ

Definition of biting

as in bitter

causing intense discomfort to one's skin a biting wind that only the toughest football fans were willing to endure

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sarcastic

marked by the use of wit that is intended to cause hurt feelings the biting comments by the pundits about the government's inaction

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

biting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bite, informal + sometimes impolite

as in sucking

to be objectionable or unsatisfactory man, that really bites that you have to work on the weekend

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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 biting

Adjective

These pesky, tiny biting insects can be a nuisance and prevent you from enjoying time outside in your yard. — Lauren David, Southern Living, 29 May 2026 Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 May 2026

Verb

Then biting into a fresh pod from my own backyard—no cooking, no seasoning—emphasized its versatility even more. — Trelani Michelle, Southern Living, 10 July 2026 The canoe dug into the top of my spine, biting harder every step. — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for biting

Recent Examples of Synonyms for biting

Adjective

These models are typically not trained on or constrained by explicit physics rules, data, or simulations—remember, the bitter lesson.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
The increasingly bitter contest will be among the next races where progressive candidates are facing more moderate rivals.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026

Definition of bitter

Adjective

Another way to say this is that, in place of the extensive self-announcements Plato allows his characters, Rochester substitutes his own summary judgements, his sarcastic imitations.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
This is taken as evidence of his status, not a sarcastic criticism.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026

Definition of sarcastic

Verb

These much larger centers have begun sprouting up across the nation and making headlines for sucking up communities’ water, spiking power bills and causing other environmental issues.

— Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Blanket sucking is a self-soothing behavior thought to mimic nursing.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of sucking

Adjective

In addition to the sharp shape, the coffee brown shade gives the bag a more elevated feel.

— Irene Richardson, InStyle, 6 July 2026
During male puberty, rising testosterone drives the cartilage to grow forward and meet at a sharper angle, while simultaneously lengthening the vocal folds and vocal tract housed just behind it.

— Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Definition of sharp

Adjective

The script for the video was written by Casale and his longtime friend Max Papeschi, an Italian satirical artist.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 July 2026
Staff members of the satirical magazine Leman are on trial on charges of inciting hatred over a cartoon published last year that features the Prophet Mohammed and Moses.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of satiric

Adjective

The researchers' device aims to solve the stinging problem by physically preventing this meeting (unfortunately no images of it are available at this time).

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 June 2026
Since September of 2024, federal science agencies in the US have axed nearly 120,000 employees, in a stinging loss for public research.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 June 2026

Definition of stinging

Adjective

But his view of Adrian’s methods, goals, and way of life end up making the bond of mentorship both tenuous and barbed.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
Meanwhile, McGrew agreed to adjustments, including adding baffles to reduce sound from a attached generator for the tower and replacing tower fencing that incorporated barbed wire with taller, more natural looking fencing.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Definition of barbed

Adjective

One spring day in Paris many years ago, my wife, Diana, a most penetrating photographer, capable of seeing like no one else, decided, as an experiment, to walk across the city blindfolded.

— Hisham Matar, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
Since the war began in Gaza, more than six months ago, the Israeli magazine +972 has published some of the most penetrating reporting on the Israel Defense Forces’ conduct.

— Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024

Definition of penetrating

Cite this Entry

Style

“Biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/biting. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of biting

adjective

verb

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