bites 1 of 2

noun

plural of bite
as in mouthfuls
a small piece or quantity of food had only a bite to eat before rushing off

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bites

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bite, informal + sometimes impolite
as in sucks
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 bites
Noun
MacIntosh also points out that the fecal avoidance experiment bears little connection to how the initial outbreak spread, through bodily fluids transmitted through scratches or bites. — Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026 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 Raw chicken bites were stored in the display cooler that was above 41 degrees, and there was a faucet at the 3-compartment sink that was leaking. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 But my favorite ritual happened each evening in the Living Room lobby bar, where live jazz, complimentary bites, and a glass of the signature Opera Punch was a welcome sip after a day of exploration. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Carve out a breakfast or snack station with cereal, bread, fruit, dishes and grab-and-go bites all in one place. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026 As the party winded down, guests plucked final bites off silver platters and marveled at how tall Skarsgård truly is in person—his nearly six-foot-five frame barely fit under the bar’s low ceilings. — Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026 There have been 13 shark attack bites in the United States this year, according to the organization. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 Crispy rice bites like these hit a nostalgic note, the lunchbox feeling of a crispy square that is shrunk down to poppable size. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
The museum defines an unprovoked attack as when a shark bites a human in its own habitat without any provocation by the human. — Heather McCarron, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 The law lets states send Amber Alert-style warnings when a shark bites someone nearby, aiming to keep unsuspecting swimmers out of the water during rare but dangerous events. — Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Dog bites your eye and JUST your eye. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026 If a black widow bites you and the bite is not dry, the venom will cause pain by interfering with your nerve endings. — Eva Flowe may 28, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2026 The snakes continue squirming in his grasp, and one bites him. — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 26 May 2026 Dog bites your eye and JUSt your eye. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 May 2026 What will the halo and aspirational car space look like when the last V12 finally bites the dust? — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 8 Apr. 2026 Once an octopus ambushes and bites its prey, the venom in its saliva paralyzes the prey, allowing the octopus to consume it. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bites
  1. mouthfuls
  2. sucks
  3. tastes
  4. smells
  5. nibbles
Noun
  • Trump himself issued mouthfuls of balderdash during the event.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The possibility of a Chase and Taylor flirtation causing a rift with Miranda is briefly raised and just as swiftly quashed — through large mouthfuls of chips and salsa, Taylor assures Miranda at the sip-and-see that there is no there there.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of mouthfuls
Verb
  • The system sucks up nearly 100% of cancer-causing diesel particulates and 95% of nitrogen oxide.
    — Micheline Maynard, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Warmer air wants to hold more water, so the air sucks moisture from vegetation.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sucks
Noun
  • Why will reality television not follow my personal tastes and preferences to the letter?
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The teens created a unique sound by merging their diverse musical tastes, like Culos’s love for Beastie Boys and Nas and DePizzo’s Nirvana and Soundgarden influences.
    — Leena Tailor, SPIN, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of tastes
Verb
  • On the upside, my compost bin now smells like pumpkin spice rot.
    — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But what if sunlight, instead of making the problem worse, could do the opposite and help get rid of those smells?
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of smells
Noun
  • Protect your nibbles from Giuseppe, the resident seagull, who was particularly interested in my anchovies on toast.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 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 nibbles

Browse Nearby Words

bite (on)
bites
bites (at)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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