biting

adjective

bit·​ing ˈbī-tiŋ How to pronounce biting (audio)
: having the power to bite
a biting wind
especially : able to grip and impress deeply
a biting wit
bitingly adverb

Examples of biting in a Sentence

a biting wind that only the toughest football fans were willing to endure the biting comments by the pundits about the government's inaction
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The word itself began life as a British colonial term, probably a corruption of kutu, a Malay word for lice and other biting insects. Bruce Handy, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025 But the two-hour, 40-minute script by Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan is smart, biting, playful and swift-paced. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025 Sanjana, the protagonist of this biting novel, has recently left her husband in Bombay after a dispute over whether to have children. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025 Many of his biting posts have gone viral, drawing thousands of shares and millions of views. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for biting

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biting was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Biting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biting. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

biting

adjective
bit·​ing ˈbīt-iŋ How to pronounce biting (audio)
: causing bodily or mental distress : sharp, cutting
biting wit
a biting cold

More from Merriam-Webster on biting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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