bitterness

bitterness

noun

Definition of BITTERNESS

1

a deep-seated ill will <he still harbored an implacable bitterness against the company that had fired him>

Synonyms animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, bad blood, bitterness, gall, grudge, hostility, jaundice, rancor

Related Words blood feud, feud, score, vendetta; hate, hatred, loathing; vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; alienation, disaffection, estrangement; conflict, coolness, discord, friction, strain, tension; inhospitableness, unfriendliness; malice, malignancy, malignity, spite, spitefulness, venom

Near Antonyms amiability, amicability, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality, neighborliness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

Antonyms amity

2

a harsh or sharp quality <the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated>

Synonyms acerbity, acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, acrimoniousness, acrimony, acuteness, asperity, bite, bitterness, harshness, keenness, poignance, poignancy, pungency, roughness, sharpness, tartness

Related Words ginger, punch, spice, tang; raucousness, severeness, severity, shrillness, virulence, vitriol; cattiness, maliciousness; pointedness, thorniness

Near Antonyms gentleness, kindliness

Antonyms mildness, softness

3

an uncomfortable degree of coolness <there's a bitterness in the air, so let's build a fire in the fireplace>

Synonyms bite, bitterness, bleakness, chilliness, nip, nippiness, rawness, sharpness

Related Words briskness, crispness; coldness, frigidity, frigidness, frostiness, gelidity, iciness, wintriness; cold, freeze, snap

Near Antonyms balminess, warmness, warmth; heat, hotness, sultriness

4

biting sharpness of feeling or expression <complained with great bitterness about the ill treatment he had always received from his in-laws>

Synonyms acidity, acidness, acridity, acridness, asperity, bile, bitterness, cattiness, corrosiveness, mordancy, tartness, virulence, virulency, vitriol

Related Words gruffness, harshness, hostility, relentlessness, severity, sternness, vehemence; coldness, crossness, discourteousness, iciness, impoliteness, incivility, nastiness, rudeness, sourness, surliness, ungraciousness; anger, animosity, gall, jaundice, malevolence, malice, rancor, scorn, spite, spleen, venom, vindictiveness; jealousy, pique, resentment, sour grapes

Near Antonyms civility, cordiality, courtesy, diplomacy, geniality, graciousness, kindness, politeness, tactfulness; compassion, softness, sweetness, sympathy, tenderness, warmth; oiliness, smoothness, suaveness, suavity, unctuousness, urbanity