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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Senate Democrats and Republicans have been mired in a bitter dispute over a government funding bill, with Democrats refusing to sign on unless changes were made to certain health care policies, including Medicaid and subsidies provided by the Affordable Care Act.
—
Keisha Rowe, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
This was a playoff duel on the last night of September involving historically bitter rivals.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
In Wednesday’s other games, the Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 3-1, while the Boston Red Sox defeated bitter rivals the New York Yankees by the same scoreline.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Sesame oil adds a nutty taste; flaxseed oil is bitter and may pair well with sweeter ingredients in dressings.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Keisha Rowe, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Oct. 2025
This was a playoff duel on the last night of September involving historically bitter rivals.
—Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
In Wednesday’s other games, the Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 3-1, while the Boston Red Sox defeated bitter rivals the New York Yankees by the same scoreline.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Sesame oil adds a nutty taste; flaxseed oil is bitter and may pair well with sweeter ingredients in dressings.
—Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
-
Anyone proposing to offer a master class on changing the world for the better, without becoming negative, cynical, angry or narrow-minded in the process, could model their advice on the life and work of pioneering animal behavior scholar Jane Goodall.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
-
An angry cowboy named Jake once slammed a guest’s door and locked it.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Mario Vuskovic’s suspension in 2022 was part of that struggle, another painful situation to overcome.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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In place of pesky underwire — which is uncomfortable at best, and downright painful at its worst — the bra uses a sturdy elastic band and adjustable straps to provide comfortable support.—
Clara McMahon,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
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There’s Bud the biting cat, played by a feline named Tonic and who deserves a three-picture deal.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The triumphant narrative began to fray when exceedingly harsh lockdown measures could no longer contain the spread of the virus, and the staggering human cost in the name of protecting lives defied all logic.—
Yangyang Cheng,
NPR,
4 Oct. 2025
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There are no easy fixes, so figuring out how to cushion the harsh impact will be the basis of negotiations with other parties in the Japanese legislature, the Diet.—
Jeff Kingston,
Time,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This is when the weather in most places is nicest—not too cold, but not yet hot and humid.—
Kristin Braswell,
AFAR Media,
7 Oct. 2025
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But actually, simply cold emailing employers isn’t a bad way to stand out.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This tan cardigan is lightweight enough for transitional weather but still provides just the right amount of warmth for chilly flights.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Sep. 2025
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These range from cropped flannel hoodies that place style over substance to longer versions that offer greater protection in chilly weather.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The atmosphere at Charlie Kirk's memorial in Glendale, Arizona, is anything but mournful.—
Amanda Castro
Mandy Taheri
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
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So mournful the distant owl in Black Brooks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This can prevent mold and mildew growth, which can lead to unpleasant odors and damage to the dishwasher.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Oct. 2025
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But too much fiber at once can cause unpleasant gastrointestinal issues, like gas and bloating.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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