bitch
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for bitch, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A female dog.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
From Middle English biche, bicche, from Old English biċċe, from Proto-West Germanic *bikkjā, from Proto-Germanic *bikjǭ (“female dog”) (compare Norwegian bikkje (“dog, bitch”), Old Danish bikke (“bitch”)), from Proto-Germanic *bikjaną (“to thrust, attack”) (compare Old Norse bikkja (“to plunge into water”), Dutch bikke...
Full origin of bitch →Frequently asked questions
What does “bitch” mean?
The word “bitch” means a female dog. In plain terms, literally a female dog, but almost always used today as a strong insult toward a person, or as a verb meaning to complain.
How do you pronounce “bitch”?
“Bitch” is pronounced bihch (/bɪt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bitch” in a sentence?
Here is “bitch” used in a sentence: “The breeder kept the bitch and her puppies in a heated kennel.”
What is another word for “bitch”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bitch” include jerk, punk and gunsel.
What part of speech is “bitch”?
Depending on how it is used, “bitch” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “bitch” a common word?
“Bitch” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bitch” have?
“Bitch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a female dog.
Is 'bitch' a technical term for a female dog?
Yes. In veterinary medicine, dog breeding, and kennel-club registration, bitch is the correct and neutral term for a female dog. A bitch that has had puppies is called a 'dam', the counterpart to the 'sire'. In these settings the word carries no insult — it is simply precise terminology.