1
as in bitter
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
a biting wind that only the toughest football fans were willing to endure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of biting
Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2025
Attendees in The Hague have framed the defense spending pledge and snappy communique as a response to the threat of Russia, not just the biting condemnation of the U.S. president.
—Ellie Cook — Reporting From The Hague, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
Predictably, no streamers were biting.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biting
Adjective
Share the research from 30 years ago that concludes these devices do not significantly reduce mosquito or biting insect populations.
—Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2025
Attendees in The Hague have framed the defense spending pledge and snappy communique as a response to the threat of Russia, not just the biting condemnation of the U.S. president.
—Ellie Cook — Reporting From The Hague, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025
Verb
Turner was seen grabbing the back of the victim’s head and pressing it into the sand before pulling it up and biting him, according to investigators.
—Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
Predictably, no streamers were biting.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for biting
Adjective
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Instead of feeling defeated or bitter, choose to get better.—
Sandra Balogun,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Despite her success as an art professor and painter, Ruth feels adrift and bitter.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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And as trade speculation has risen, Harris reported a sarcastic one-word retort from the pitcher.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
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Their dynamic is not entirely unlike that of the upstart Nomi and established Cristal in Showgirls or the sarcastic Devon and beatific Michaela in Sirens: On one hand, Sophie wants to be as confident and self-possessed as Margo, as comfortable in her own skin and her desires.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Directed by Robert Eggers, the gothic horror film sees newlyweds Ellen (Lily-Rose Depp) and Thomas Hutter (Nicholas Hoult) haunted by the treacherous, blood-sucking Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgard).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
30 Dec. 2024
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This time around, even critics were convinced, joining in with libidinous fans to praise the blood-sucking second season, which was recently nominated for two Critics Choice Awards after being largely snubbed by voting bodies last year.—
Elaina Patton,
NBC News,
27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The find came during an impressive outing for the 36-year-old Democrat on Joe Rogan’s podcast in which the aspiring preacher espoused the same brand of sharp sound bytes that has earned him almost a million TikTok followers.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
21 July 2025
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Over time, whites grew increasingly uneasy about submitting to Black barbers wielding sharp instruments.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The poem is part love quest, part account of Italy’s battles; in places profoundly serious, in places satiric.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
11 June 2025
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Neither damning nor satiric, W. is oddly wistful, almost regretful — rare sentiments in a Stone film.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Investigators learned that Zeng, during his alleged escape, threw clothing over a fence and climbed through barbed wire, Podgorski said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
14 July 2025
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This is the culmination of storylines, careers and blood feuds wrapped in a Lone Star barbed wire bow.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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This is a piercing and perceptive psychological thriller.—
Connie Ogle,
Boston Herald,
10 July 2025
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As America celebrates its 249th anniversary and a declaration of independence from tyranny on July 4, Bolick's comments represent his most piercing and direct condemnation of actions taken by the country's highest political leaders.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/biting. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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