bittersweet

1 of 2

noun

bit·​ter·​sweet ˈbi-tər-ˌswēt 

1

: something that is bittersweet

especially : pleasure accompanied by suffering or regret

… the bittersweet of their long separation …

—Christopher Morley

2

botany

a

: a poisonous Eurasian woody vine (Solanum dulcamara) of the nightshade family that has purple flowers and oval reddish berries and is naturalized (see naturalize sense 4) in North America

b

: a North American poisonous woody vine (Celastrus scandens) of the staff-tree family having clusters of small greenish flowers succeeded by yellow capsules (see capsule entry 1 sense 2a) that open when ripe and disclose the scarlet aril

bittersweet

2 of 2

adjective

1

: being at once bitter and sweet

especially : pleasant but including or marked by elements of suffering or regret

a bittersweet ballad

bittersweet memories

2

: of or relating to a prepared chocolate containing little sugar

bittersweet chocolate chips

bittersweetly adverb

bittersweetness noun

Examples of bittersweet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The bittersweet send off was marked with warm hugs, tears and gifts from locals who have enjoyed many a meal at the eatery since its opening. —Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026

Taking down all your holiday décor feels a little bittersweet, but reframe it as a fresh, clean slate for the new year. —Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025

Adjective

The news of Maduro’s arrest was bittersweet, Jose said, because his mother and grandmother didn’t live to witness that day. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026

The Final Tour and What Remains The 2023 final tour was bittersweet. —Kraig Fox, Rolling Stone, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bittersweet

• celestite
• incomplete
• indiscreet
• marguerite
• obsolete
• overeat
• overheat
• parakeet
• stillingfleet
• superheat
• amit
• athlete

Kids Definition

bittersweet

1 of 2 noun

bit·​ter·​sweet ˈbit-ər-ˌswēt 

1

: a poisonous woody vine of the nightshade family with purple flowers and oval reddish orange berries

2

: a North American woody vine with yellow seedcases that open when ripe to show the scarlet seed covers

bittersweet

2 of 2 adjective

: being both bitter and sweet

a bittersweet story

Medical Definition

bittersweet

noun

bit·​ter·​sweet ˈbit-ər-ˌswēt, ˌbit-ər-ˈ 

: a sprawling poisonous weedy nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) with purple flowers and oval reddish orange berries that is the source of dulcamara