EN

Synonyms for biting

  • adjective

Most common

sarcastic caustic incisive nipping bitter gnawing

All synonyms

Adjective

1. Nipping

nipping, sarcastic, caustic, incisive, stinging, pungent, sharp, mordant, cutting, harsh, severe, barbed, cold, painful, sardonic, strong, piercing, scathing, satirical, trenchant, freezing, piquant

Other

bitter, gnawing, keen

Antonyms

lambent

All antonyms of biting →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Causing a stinging sensation.

Related words

Word family
bitingly
Phrases
biting midge nail-biting biting stonecrop biting point

Choose the right word

Biting, Sour, Sharp, Bitter, Caustic or Cutting?

We say a sour face, sharp words, bitter complaints, caustic wit, cutting irony, biting sarcasm, a stinging taunt, harsh judgment, a tart reply.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • sarcastic I wonder whether Tom and Mary are being sarcastic.
  • caustic Our English teacher likes to make caustic comments.
  • incisive Your incisive criticism will deflate a lot of egos.
  • nipping I left my pen in the dorm. I'm just nipping back to get it.
  • bitter The wronged parties couldn't help but feel bitter.
  • gnawing Layla's curiosity was gnawing at her.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
bitingrising
sarcasticrising
causticfalling
incisivesteady
nippingrising
bittersteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
cold1, keen1
5 letters
sharp1, harsh1
6 letters
strong1, severe2, bitter2, barbed1
7 letters
cutting2, painful2, caustic2, pungent2, gnawing2, nipping2, mordant2, piquant2
8 letters
freezing2, piercing2, stinging2, scathing2, incisive3, sardonic3
9 letters
sarcastic3, satirical4, trenchant2

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (severe2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
mordant