adj
Uncommon
biting
BEYE-tihng
Biting (adj) means Sharply cold or stinging, as of wind or weather. Example: “A biting wind swept across the harbor.”
adj
1
Sharply cold or stinging, as of wind or weather.
"A biting wind swept across the harbor."
"We hurried indoors to escape the biting cold of the winter evening."
"A biting frost covered the fields and stung our cheeks."
2
Harshly critical or sarcastic.
"Her biting remarks left him speechless."
"The reviewer wrote a biting article that made the author furious."
"His biting humour can be funny, but sometimes it hurts people."
How to use biting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSharply painful or stinging — used for cold weather or for cutting, sarcastic remarks.
Common pairings
biting cold
biting wit
biting sarcasm
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Word forms
- Plural
- bitings
- Comparative
- more biting
- Superlative
- most biting
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Can you complete this real example?
A _____ wind swept across the harbor.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for biting
See all rhymes for biting →Frequently asked questions
What does “biting” mean?
The word “biting” means sharply cold or stinging, as of wind or weather. In plain terms, sharply painful or stinging — used for cold weather or for cutting, sarcastic remarks.
How do you pronounce “biting”?
“Biting” is pronounced BEYE-tihng (/ˈbaɪtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “biting” in a sentence?
Here is “biting” used in a sentence: “A biting wind swept across the harbor.”
What part of speech is “biting”?
“Biting” is an adjective.
Is “biting” a common word?
“Biting” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “biting” have?
“Biting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sharply cold or stinging, as of wind or weather.
What is the difference between biting and freezing when describing weather?
Biting describes weather, especially wind or cold, that feels sharp and stinging, while freezing simply indicates a temperature at or below the freezing point. Weather can be freezing without necessarily feeling biting if there is little wind to sharpen the sensation.
What is the difference between biting criticism and harsh criticism?
Biting criticism specifically implies sharpness and sarcasm, often delivered with cutting wit, while harsh criticism simply means severe or unkind, without necessarily being clever or sarcastic. Biting suggests a sting delivered through cleverness as much as severity.
Can biting describe things other than weather and criticism?
Biting is mainly used for two senses, sharply cold weather and harshly critical or sarcastic remarks, both sharing the idea of something that stings or cuts sharply. It is not typically used outside these two contexts.
