teethy
8.5
A sharp, biting tone in speech or writing that criticizes
- adjective
- /ˈtiːθi/
:
agresivo
- The teacher's critiquing style was quite teethy, often leaving students feeling defensive about their work.
Examples
-
Her teethy remarks during the debate shocked everyone and made it clear she wouldn't hold back.
-
He delivered a teethy response, cutting through the arguments with sharp, insightful points.
-
"Come to Daddy, you iddle widdle teethy fucks," he says and pinches a nose, prompting one wolf to reel back and pop the other's folded ear.
Fiction book (1999)
Synonyms
biting
vsteethy
5.4
Harsh, sharply critical words that hurt people
is more generally aggressive and sharp in tone, not only critical
8.9
Quick to say sharp things that hurt
is aggressive overall rather than only quick to make remarks
9.4
Saying harsh, mean things that hurt people
is sharp and biting but less focused on spite or malice
6.0
A little strong in taste or smell, like lemon
is more forcefully biting and aggressive in speech or writing
Antonyms
How Harsh
Surface Forms
teethy positive
Morphology
Etymology
Teethy comes from tooth + the ending -y, so it suggests 'full of teeth' or 'bite-like'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of words that 'bite'—a teethy remark 'bites' the listener, which is why it means sharp or aggressive speech.