bite 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bitenext
1
as in edge
a harsh or sharp quality the fall winds had a real bite

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mouthful
a small piece or quantity of food had only a bite to eat before rushing off

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness weather with a bite that suggested winter was right around the corner

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bite

2 of 2

verb

ˈbīt How to pronounce bite (audio)
informal + sometimes impolite
as in to suck
to be objectionable or unsatisfactory man, that really bites that you have to work on the weekend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bite
Noun
It is spread by insect bites The virus is transmitted to animals through the bite of a Culicoides midge, which is a small insect similar to a fly. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 Serving light bites developed with chef Noof Al Marri, the Qatar Lounge acted as a prelude to the second edition of Art Basel Qatar in January. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Verb
Wild game — including deer, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep — infected with EHD usually spike a fever within seven days of being bitten. — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 14 Oct. 2026 The law enforcement official told CNN one flight attendant was bitten and a second was cut, and that officers resorted to plastic restraints to subdue Blair. — Mark Morales, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bite
  1. edge
  2. mouthful
  3. chill
  4. suck
  5. bitterness
  6. taste
  7. acidity
  8. nibble
Noun
  • Sequenced at the center of a three-track medley, its death-dream logic deliberately evokes the SMiLE era’s dark, confusing edge.
    — Ryan Meehan, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Wear one in beige or white to add a bit of brightness to your look, or black for some edge.
    — Michel Mejía, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Tall Paul said through an outraged mouthful of banoffee doughnut.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
  • But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of red meat.
    — Dylan Lovan, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of mouthful
Noun
  • Nothing sounds better than birria when a chill hits the October air.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The chill was slipping through the cracks in her windows and warps in her 48-year-old trailer.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of chill
Verb
  • At the dock, a fish pump, which works like a giant vacuum tube, was sucking the fish out of the hold.
    — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • My plan today is to actually go suck down some of this pure Ohio air here in a few hours.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of suck
Noun
  • But few, if any, can match the tradition, scale, and bitterness of the yearly clash between Alabama and Tennessee on the third Saturday in October.
    — Austin Evans, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Written with a reporter’s sharp eye for detail and a remarkable lack of anger or bitterness, this is a compelling story of courage and grace.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of bitterness
Noun
  • But, sea level rise is pushing them higher and higher, and experts say these higher-than-usual tides offer a taste of what an average day could look like in decades to comes, when seas are a few feet higher.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
  • So, this chicken already had a special place in my heart (and stomach) before the taste test even began.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of taste
Noun
  • Use sparingly, as vinegar’s acidity can damage rubber gaskets over time.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Red wine vinegar brings welcome acidity to BA’s Best Gazpacho, coq au vin, a pot of hearty lentils, and rich meat marinades.
    — Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of acidity
Noun
  • All guests are invited for complimentary nibbles and drinks, including the hotel's signature Negroni.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The menu is as unfussy as the dishes on it—divided into nibbles and small and large plates, all highlighted by Ottolenghi’s quintessential bright, citrusy Middle Eastern flavors.
    — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of nibble

Phrases Containing bite

Browse Nearby Words

bitchy
bite
bite (at)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bite. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All