beißend
biting
So sharp or piercing that it causes physical discomfort, for example when referring to cold, smoke, a smell, or a taste.
EXAMPLE
Die beißende Kälte ließ seine Finger taub werden.
The biting cold made his fingers go numb.
beißend
biting
beißend – beißender – am beißendsten
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Meanings
beißend
biting
Very sharp, hurtful, and mocking in its wording or criticism.
EXAMPLE
Ihre beißende Kritik traf den Minister besonders hart.
Her biting criticism hit the minister particularly hard.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry beißend, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | beißend |
|---|---|
| comparative | beißender |
| superlative | am beißendsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to beißend.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to beißend.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to beißend.
Usage tips
Word family
'Beißend' (biting) belongs to the word family of 'beißen' (to bite). The image of a bite remains recognizable in its figurative meanings: something feels sharp, attacks, or hurts.
EXAMPLE
Der beißende Wind machte den Spaziergang unangenehm.
The biting wind made the walk unpleasant.
Typical collocations
For physically unpleasant sensations, common collocations include 'beißende Kälte' (biting cold), 'beißender Rauch' (acrid smoke), 'beißender Geruch' (pungent smell), and 'beißender Geschmack' (biting taste).
EXAMPLE
Wegen des beißenden Rauchs mussten alle das Gebäude verlassen.
Because of the acrid smoke, everyone had to leave the building.
Sharp criticism
In the sense of hurtful wording, 'beißend' (biting) is particularly often used with 'Kritik' (criticism), 'Spott' (mockery), 'Sarkasmus' (sarcasm), or 'Bemerkung' (remark).
EXAMPLE
Der Journalist formulierte eine beißende Bemerkung über den neuen Vorschlag.
The journalist made a biting remark about the new proposal.
In real life
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