bite back
phrasal verb
bit back; bitten back also bit back; biting back; bites back
informal
1
: to attack or criticize someone after being attacked or criticized by them
Weary of her rival's accusations, the candidate bit back with an aggressive ad campaign.
—often + atShe bit back at her rival with an aggressive ad campaign.
2
: to stop oneself from saying (something)
I attempted to smile sweetly while biting back angry comments.
Examples of bite back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
However, Murphy isn’t afraid to bite back, including in a recent interview.
—
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Rebecca has found the one social forum that doesn’t bite back, that subordinates judgment to context and compassion.
—Marc Weingarten, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2024
Guests also love the daily tradition that starts by the fireplace in the main lobby, processes to a ceremonial firing of a replica 19th-century cannon on the edge of Mobile Bay, and finishes with light bites back at the hotel.
—Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024
Layoffs bite back Mass redundancies have hardly been rare since the COVID-19 pandemic, as companies seek to cut costs.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 7 May 2024
Drake responds to Kendrick Lamar's grooming diss track lyrics
In his latest diss track, Drake bites back at Lamar's lyrical allegations of grooming and pedophilia.
—Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024
Edward Segarra Everybody’s a critic, but Sydney Sweeney is biting back.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Meloni government bites back Italy’s government, led by the right-wing Brothers of Italy party and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has gotten into plenty of cultural scrapes since taking power in October 2022.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024
Team Biden bites back at report's claims The White House, Biden campaign and Democrats at-large have been very protective of the president when questions about his health arise.
—Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024
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.
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2024
Rebecca has found the one social forum that doesn’t bite back, that subordinates judgment to context and compassion.
—Marc Weingarten, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2024
Guests also love the daily tradition that starts by the fireplace in the main lobby, processes to a ceremonial firing of a replica 19th-century cannon on the edge of Mobile Bay, and finishes with light bites back at the hotel.
—Beth Luberecki, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024
Layoffs bite back Mass redundancies have hardly been rare since the COVID-19 pandemic, as companies seek to cut costs.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 7 May 2024
Drake responds to Kendrick Lamar's grooming diss track lyrics
In his latest diss track, Drake bites back at Lamar's lyrical allegations of grooming and pedophilia.
—Pamela Avila, USA TODAY, 6 May 2024
Edward Segarra Everybody’s a critic, but Sydney Sweeney is biting back.
—USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024
Meloni government bites back Italy’s government, led by the right-wing Brothers of Italy party and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has gotten into plenty of cultural scrapes since taking power in October 2022.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 17 Apr. 2024
Team Biden bites back at report's claims The White House, Biden campaign and Democrats at-large have been very protective of the president when questions about his health arise.
—Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2024
Dictionary Entries Near bite back
Cite this Entry
“Bite back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bite%20back. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share