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
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Recent Examples of bitter
Over years and then decades, the two women’s relationship swings between fierce sisterhood, bitter jealousy and an uneasy combination of the two.
—
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 Mar. 2026
After their bitter divorce, however, Gnoli moved to Paris in 1962 on the recommendation of his friend Jakober.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
The move comes just a few months after Mamdani took office after a bitter campaign season last year that had the two Democrats taking turns bashing each other in often caustic and personal terms.
—Anthony Izaguirre The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
The beer’s dark, malty and slightly bitter profile adds depth to savory dishes and richness to desserts.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 Mar. 2026
After their bitter divorce, however, Gnoli moved to Paris in 1962 on the recommendation of his friend Jakober.
—Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
The move comes just a few months after Mamdani took office after a bitter campaign season last year that had the two Democrats taking turns bashing each other in often caustic and personal terms.
—Anthony Izaguirre The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
The beer’s dark, malty and slightly bitter profile adds depth to savory dishes and richness to desserts.
—Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
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Relatives of a family of four killed in a car crash in San Francisco are angry and disappointed by the sentence handed down to the driver on Friday afternoon.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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Leaders in the United Arab Emirates, which has been bearing the brunt of Iranian attacks, are angry at how things have unfolded.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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One of the happy accidents that occurred as a result of not getting a pickup, which was very painful in 2005, was the opportunity to come back in 2014 and look at a much bigger picture.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
22 Mar. 2026
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UConn ended Boston College’s hockey season in the most painful of ways on Friday at the Garden in the Hockey East semifinal.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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The bulk of a Tyrannosaurus rex skull, the biting point of a shark tooth, the startling familiarity of a hominin footprint—and then there’s the charm inherent to any sample of regurgitalite, the paleontological term for fossilized vomit.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Residents describe the smell as a harsh chemical paint smell, similar to the smell in a nail salon.—
Jessica Riley,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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Hardliners appeared to consolidate power in Iran as a result of US and Israeli air strikes, with experts fearing restrictions on dissent could be even harsher.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The spa Shaded by almost 100 palm trees and other endemic plants, the Ojo de Agua (watering hole) spa has hot and cold dipping pools.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Mar. 2026
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Texas has gone cold at the worst time.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Dry weather and a chilly breeze take over Monday afternoon.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
20 Mar. 2026
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But March 23 is going to be a bit chillier than the days prior.—
Brooke Muckerman,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
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Humpback whales, which can weigh more than 55,000 pounds, are the ocean's most renowned singers, capable of complex vocalizations that can sound ethereal or even mournful.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yet insects may also be attracted to scents unpleasant to us as several notable plant species instruct.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
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And a condition in which people experience unpleasant skin sensations such as burning, stabbing or a feeling like an electrical shock occurred in about 23% of those taking the higher dose of Wegovy versus 6% of those taking the lower dose and less than 1% in people who received a placebo.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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