1
a
: being, inducing, or marked by the one of the five basic taste sensations that is peculiarly acrid, astringent, and often disagreeable and characteristic of citrus peels, unsweetened cocoa, black coffee, mature leafy greens (such as kale or mustard), or ale
The pill left a bitter taste in my mouth.
bitter beer
bitter chocolates
compare salty entry 1 sense 1b, sour entry 1 sense 1, sweet entry 1, umami entry 2 sense 1
b
: distasteful or distressing to the mind : galling
a bitter sense of shame
2
: marked by intensity or severity:
a
: accompanied by severe pain or suffering
a bitter death
b
: being relentlessly determined : vehement
a bitter partisan
c
: exhibiting intense animosity
bitter enemies
d(1)
: harshly reproachful
bitter complaints
(2)
: marked by cynicism and rancor
bitter contempt
was still bitter about not being chosen
e
: intensely unpleasant especially in coldness or rawness
a bitter wind
3
: caused by or expressive of severe pain, grief, or regret
bitter tears
1
a
: bitter quality
… stepping outside your comfort zone and taking the bitter with the sweet.—
James Poniewoziks
James Poniewoziks
b
: the taste sensation that is peculiarly acrid, astringent, and often disagreeable and is characteristic of citrus peels, unsweetened cocoa, black coffee, mature leafy greens (such as kale or mustard), or ale compare salty entry 2, sour entry 2 sense 1b, sweet entry 3 sense 2, umami entry 1
2
a
bitters
ˈbi-tərz 
plural
: a usually alcoholic solution of bitter and often aromatic plant products used especially in preparing mixed drinks or as a mild tonic (see tonic entry 1 sense 1b)
plural
: a usually alcoholic solution of bitter and often aromatic plant products used especially in preparing mixed drinks or as a mild tonic (see tonic entry 1 sense 1b)
b
British
: a very dry (see dry entry 1 sense 7b) heavily hopped ale
: to an intense or severe degree : to a bitter (see bitter entry 1) degree
It's bitter cold.
Synonyms
Examples of bitter in a Sentence
Adjective
Cocoa beans have a bitter flavor.
The medicine had a bitter aftertaste.
We were struck by the bitter irony of the situation.
His betrayal had made her bitter.
She was still bitter toward her ex-husband.
He's the bitterest man I know.
Noun
The cocktail recipe called for a dash of bitters.
a good selection of bitters
See More
Recent Examples on the WebAlessandra Codinha, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Muddle gently, avoiding the lime rinds, which can add a bitter taste.
—Lucy Buffett, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
Five years after his death, those closest to him are left with grief and the bitter taste of a life sacrificed unnecessarily.
—John Leland, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023
Sun Will Battery Balaclava Keep your face, nose, and neck protected from bitter temps and brutal winds with this soft and stretchy base layer.
—Jen Ator, Travel + Leisure, 19 Nov. 2023
Van Fleet allegedly grew bitter in her older years, grumbling that she had been typecast and was never given a true chance to shine, but this glittering collection of films proves otherwise.
—The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
The pre-ground beans produced a very strong, bitter cup with minimal acidity.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023
The contest has featured particularly bitter TV ads, and is critical to Republican efforts to flip control of the Senate.
—CBS News, 7 Nov. 2023
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi are bitter rivals in the capital, with the federal authorities having weakened much of the city administration’s powers.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 Nov. 2023
The brand’s monthly cocktail kits amp up the average tipple with add-ins like infusion oils, aromatic bitters and even accompanying Spotify playlists.
—Leigh-Ann Jackson, wsj.com, 24 Oct. 2023
These include Old Fashioned mixer, Whiskey Sour mixer, Spiced Cherry Old Fashioned mixer, and a variety of seasonal bitters.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2023
Diners can wash back the octopus with another vogue — a drink trailed by smoke — by requesting Evening Thyme, sprung from bourbon, maraschino liqueur, a touch of honey and cherry bitters.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
This candle has rich and comforting notes of cardamom, orange peel, cognac, black pepper, and aromatic bitters.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
To keep the French vibes flowing, Lillet Blanc is added to the mix before adding in the bitters: Lofi Gentian Amaro.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
While a swizzle typically pairs light rum with citrus juices, spices, and bitters, it can also be sweetened with falernum, or made with pineapple juice or other types of rum.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 31 July 2023
Fino or Manzanilla sherry 1.5 oz. sweet vermouth 2 dashes orange bitters
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2023
Eric Velasco, al, 23 Apr. 2020
This grape is extremely approachable, with lots of fruit flavor and balanced dryness, due to the low tannins, which are the drying or bittering agent in many wines.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 7 Nov. 2019
With all the ABVs and bittering units, barrel sizes and batch numbers, a beer bottle’s label can often read like the back of a baseball card.
—William Bostwick, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2018
The liqueur puts Indiana persimmons front and center while adding traditional bittering agents like rhubarb root and bitter orange peel, with cardamom and spearmint offering added complexity.
—Kenney Marlatt, chicagotribune.com, 30 May 2018
Another hop, typically grown in the Southern Hemisphere and used largely as a bittering agent, presented big, fruit flavors more like traditional West Coast hops.
—Natasha Geiling, Smithsonian, 21 May 2018
Those are made employing the still somewhat suspicious American practice of adding bittering hops to the mix, but there's nothing aggressive or even untoward about them.
—Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 22 Mar. 2018
Night Shift built Nite Lite similarly, adding real corn (as opposed to corn syrup or rice syrup) and brewing with a touch of Saaz hops, the classic bittering agent in a Czech pilsner.
—Gary Dzen, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Mar. 2018
Two grants for a total of $135,154 went to Pennsylvania State University for projects involving hops, which are the bittering agent in beer.
—Harold Brubaker, Philly.com, 1 Mar. 2018
Chris Gorski, Discover Magazine, 28 Jan. 2023
This mutation might even be an evolutionary remnant of a once-crucial survival mechanism to avoid bitter-tasting toxic plants and animals.
—Kareem Clark, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2021
Do not let this sadness, this fear, rage turn you bitter towards our world.
—Kathleen Foody, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2022
Shake out every last drop from your previous pot to keep the next round from turning bitter.
—Max Falkowitz, Bon Appétit, 5 May 2022
Two-thirds of 137 participants in the Phase 2 trial received AMX0035, a bitter-tasting powder mixed with water to be drunk or ingested through a feeding tube twice daily.
—New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022
The ingredients for — and method of making — the crisp, bright and bitter-leaning drink lie directly in its name.
—Rebekah Peppler, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Wormwood is a European plant that yields a bitter-tasting oil but contains neither worm nor wood.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2021
The benefit to squeezers is more control over the juicing process, so your end result should be pure, delicious juice with no bitter-tasting peel oil.
—Laura Duerr, chicagotribune.com, 13 Mar. 2021
See More
Adjective
There are moments of levity, but the play is not a light lift—Paulson’s role, the eldest sister, Toni, furious and bitter in measures, perhaps especially.
—Alessandra Codinha, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2023
Muddle gently, avoiding the lime rinds, which can add a bitter taste.
—Lucy Buffett, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
Five years after his death, those closest to him are left with grief and the bitter taste of a life sacrificed unnecessarily.
—John Leland, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023
Sun Will Battery Balaclava Keep your face, nose, and neck protected from bitter temps and brutal winds with this soft and stretchy base layer.
—Jen Ator, Travel + Leisure, 19 Nov. 2023
Van Fleet allegedly grew bitter in her older years, grumbling that she had been typecast and was never given a true chance to shine, but this glittering collection of films proves otherwise.
—The New Yorker, 17 Nov. 2023
The pre-ground beans produced a very strong, bitter cup with minimal acidity.
—Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023
The contest has featured particularly bitter TV ads, and is critical to Republican efforts to flip control of the Senate.
—CBS News, 7 Nov. 2023
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi are bitter rivals in the capital, with the federal authorities having weakened much of the city administration’s powers.
—Hari Kumar, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023
Noun
And while the popular Le Labo Santal 33 resonates with a cozy, smoking fire– just like Maison Margiela’s By The Fireplace– Jo Malone leans more uplifting thanks to orange bitters.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 Nov. 2023
The brand’s monthly cocktail kits amp up the average tipple with add-ins like infusion oils, aromatic bitters and even accompanying Spotify playlists.
—Leigh-Ann Jackson, wsj.com, 24 Oct. 2023
These include Old Fashioned mixer, Whiskey Sour mixer, Spiced Cherry Old Fashioned mixer, and a variety of seasonal bitters.
—Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2023
Diners can wash back the octopus with another vogue — a drink trailed by smoke — by requesting Evening Thyme, sprung from bourbon, maraschino liqueur, a touch of honey and cherry bitters.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023
This candle has rich and comforting notes of cardamom, orange peel, cognac, black pepper, and aromatic bitters.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023
To keep the French vibes flowing, Lillet Blanc is added to the mix before adding in the bitters: Lofi Gentian Amaro.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
While a swizzle typically pairs light rum with citrus juices, spices, and bitters, it can also be sweetened with falernum, or made with pineapple juice or other types of rum.
—Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 31 July 2023
Fino or Manzanilla sherry 1.5 oz. sweet vermouth 2 dashes orange bitters
Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with ice.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2023
Verb
Most Beach Club beers, like Mango Colada with coconut and lime, have minimal amounts of bittering hops.
—Eric Velasco, al, 23 Apr. 2020
This grape is extremely approachable, with lots of fruit flavor and balanced dryness, due to the low tannins, which are the drying or bittering agent in many wines.
—Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 7 Nov. 2019
With all the ABVs and bittering units, barrel sizes and batch numbers, a beer bottle’s label can often read like the back of a baseball card.
—William Bostwick, WSJ, 8 Aug. 2018
The liqueur puts Indiana persimmons front and center while adding traditional bittering agents like rhubarb root and bitter orange peel, with cardamom and spearmint offering added complexity.
—Kenney Marlatt, chicagotribune.com, 30 May 2018
Another hop, typically grown in the Southern Hemisphere and used largely as a bittering agent, presented big, fruit flavors more like traditional West Coast hops.
—Natasha Geiling, Smithsonian, 21 May 2018
Those are made employing the still somewhat suspicious American practice of adding bittering hops to the mix, but there's nothing aggressive or even untoward about them.
—Mike Sula, Chicago Reader, 22 Mar. 2018
Night Shift built Nite Lite similarly, adding real corn (as opposed to corn syrup or rice syrup) and brewing with a touch of Saaz hops, the classic bittering agent in a Czech pilsner.
—Gary Dzen, BostonGlobe.com, 20 Mar. 2018
Two grants for a total of $135,154 went to Pennsylvania State University for projects involving hops, which are the bittering agent in beer.
—Harold Brubaker, Philly.com, 1 Mar. 2018
Adverb
To see whether an individual’s diet affects the composition of its saliva, researchers gathered saliva from rats habituated to a diet including bitter-tasting quinine.
—Chris Gorski, Discover Magazine, 28 Jan. 2023
This mutation might even be an evolutionary remnant of a once-crucial survival mechanism to avoid bitter-tasting toxic plants and animals.
—Kareem Clark, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2021
Do not let this sadness, this fear, rage turn you bitter towards our world.
—Kathleen Foody, BostonGlobe.com, 8 July 2022
Shake out every last drop from your previous pot to keep the next round from turning bitter.
—Max Falkowitz, Bon Appétit, 5 May 2022
Two-thirds of 137 participants in the Phase 2 trial received AMX0035, a bitter-tasting powder mixed with water to be drunk or ingested through a feeding tube twice daily.
—New York Times, 30 Mar. 2022
The ingredients for — and method of making — the crisp, bright and bitter-leaning drink lie directly in its name.
—Rebekah Peppler, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2022
Wormwood is a European plant that yields a bitter-tasting oil but contains neither worm nor wood.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2021
The benefit to squeezers is more control over the juicing process, so your end result should be pure, delicious juice with no bitter-tasting peel oil.
—Laura Duerr, chicagotribune.com, 13 Mar. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bitter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, going back to Old English biter, going back to Germanic *bitra- (whence Old Saxon & Old High German bittar "acrid-tasting," Old Norse bitr "biting, sharp") and *baitra- (whence Gothic baitrs "sharp-tasting"), derivatives from the base of *bītan- "to bite" — more at bite entry 1
Noun
derivative of bitter entry 1
Verb
Middle English bittrin, going back to Old English biterian, derivative of biter bitter entry 1
Adverb
Middle English bitter, bittere, going back to Old English bitere, derivative of biter bitter entry 1
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
12th century, in the meaning defined above
Adverb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of bitter was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing bitter
Articles Related to bitter
Dictionary Entries Near bitter
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bitter. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
bitter
adjective
bit·ter
ˈbit-ər
1
: having or being a disagreeable sharp taste that is one of the four basic taste sensations
bitter coffee
compare salt entry 3 sense 1b, sour entry 1 sense 1, sweet entry 1 sense 1b
2
: hard to accept or bear : painful
bitter disappointment
3
: sharp and resentful
a bitter reply
4
: unpleasantly cold
a bitter wind
bitterly
adverb
bitterness
noun
Medical Definition
bitter
adjective
bit·ter
ˈbit-ər
: being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is peculiarly acrid, astringent, or disagreeable and suggestive of an infusion of hops compare salt entry 2 sense 2, sour entry 1, sweet entry 1
bitterness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on bitter
Nglish: Translation of bitter for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of bitter for Arabic Speakers
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