bitter

adjective

ˈbi-tər How to pronounce bitter (audio)
Definition of bitternext
1
as in angry
having or showing deep-seated resentment a bitter attitude about always having to work on Saturday she's still bitter about how her family treated her so unfairly

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2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally discovering that he had been cut from the crew team was a bitter disappointment

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3
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin a bitter wind was stinging the faces of the skiers

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4
as in harsh
difficult to endure a bitter lesson about money and friendship

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5
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature a bitter February day for this part of the country

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6
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool a bitter, rainy day

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7
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning a bitter cry of grief

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8
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses had to face the bitter truth about their marriage

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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 bitter Ethylene speeds up the spoilage of this produce and can cause these fruits and veggies to go dull and yellow, wilt, soften, and become bitter. — Molly Burford, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026 Political feud The case dated back to the administration of Haiti President Jovenel Moïse, when Vorbe and the late president were engaged in a bitter political and economic feud. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Epsom Salt Epsom salt has a bitter scent and can be deterring to mice. — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 28 Aug. 2026 The Yankees hold a two-game lead for the top wild-card spot in the American League over their bitter rivals. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
  1. angry
  2. painful
  3. biting
  4. harsh
  5. cold
  6. chilly
  7. mournful
  8. unpleasant
Adjective
  • Much of the work is also focused on building guardrails to protect clients from lawsuits — coming from business partners, local officials, or angry neighbors — in an industry that has an increasingly visible target on its back.
    — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Though nothing about the current situation is ideal, there’s no clear way to hop off without ensuring certain doom at the hands of a large, angry cat.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of angry
Adjective
  • Be sure to start below the injury and wrap upward, overlapping each layer but never so tightly that fingers or toes become numb or painful.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Its absence does not make the eventual adjustment less painful.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
Definition of biting
Adjective
  • Scott London Every year, Black Rock City appears on a dry lakebed in one of Nevada’s harshest areas, then disappears just as fast.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • The device also includes instant hot and cold under-eye contrast therapy, designed to combine clinical benefits with a spa-like feel.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Isaacson’s 2023 book left a lot of reviewers cold with its lack of criticism but still sold a gazillion copies.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • As the attractive secretary, she is forced to fend off not only Hart’s advances (with the cheery but firm dexterity of a woman with no alternative and many years of practice) but also the chilly scorn of her female colleagues.
    — Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • That first chilly day of the year means mice, stink bugs, Asian lady beetles and more become residents of your home.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of chilly
Adjective
  • Part of it was the circumstances of his death and the mournful public procession through Brooklyn.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Whitney Houston’s powerhouse version stands alone, but Dolly’s quieter, mournful ode to her collaboration with Porter Wagoner is the artful, formative sketch to a colossal mural.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mournful
Adjective
  • Discard soy sauce that smells unpleasant, has a sour taste, or contains mold.
    — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Cedarwood Oil Cedarwood is another essential oil with an unpleasant smell to mice as well as other pests.
    — Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpleasant

Browse Nearby Words

bitten the dust
bitter
bitterly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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