Biting
/ˈbaɪtɪŋ/
adjectiveIntermediate📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning1 question
Definitions
1
Having a sharp, stinging quality; sarcastic or critical.
/ˈbaɪtɪŋ/
adjectivenegativeIntermediate
General
Sharp, penetrating, or intense.
The biting cold made us shiver.
💡 Simply: Sharp or painful; criticizing strongly.
More Examples
2
Her biting sarcasm stung him deeply.
How It's Used
Literary
"The biting wind whipped across the plains."
Figurative
"He delivered a biting critique of the government's policies."
From the verb "bite", ultimately from Proto-Germanic *bītan.
The word has been used figuratively to describe sharp or intense qualities since the Middle Ages.
Memory tip
Think of a sharp bite – that's the feeling of a biting remark.
Word Origin
LanguageProto-Germanic
Original meaning
"to bite"
Base: bite
biting windbiting criticismbiting satire
Common misspellings
bitting
Practice
Usage
60%Spoken
40%Written