bittersweet

noun bit·ter·sweet \ ˈbi-tər-ˌswēt \

Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of bittersweet

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 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 ¹capsule 2a) that open when ripe and disclose the scarlet aril

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Recent Examples of bittersweet from the Web

The novel itself is every bit as powerful and atmospheric and addictively page-turning as all the ones that came before it, but the final pages are extra bittersweet because there will be no more.

— steve donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Greeks Bearing Gifts' will be the last in the popular 'Bernie Gunther' series begun in Nazi Germany," 5 Apr. 2018
Non-native invasives like autumn olive, multiflora rose, and bittersweet had spread throughout land that had once been pasture.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "A Conservation Success Story: A Landowner's Perspective," 12 Dec. 2017
Her freshman year bookended with another chance to see her sister play, though this one was a shade bittersweet.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "With a different position (and school) than her talented sister, Oconomowoc's Alden leads volleyball team to state," 2 Nov. 2017
For the team behind the mission, losing their spacecraft is bittersweet: Many are sad that the mission is over but excited to see the groundbreaking science provided by unprecedented proximity to Saturn during the final dive.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "The Cassini mission is ending," 15 Sep. 2017
Leaving for part of Season 6 was bittersweet for Clapton.

— julie kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "Game of Thrones," 28 Aug. 2017
Discs landed in thick clumps of bittersweet, underneath bushes, into fields of tall grass.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "West Thompson Lake Disc Golf Offers Challenges, Great Scenery," 17 Aug. 2017
Detroit Free Press Memories of 1967 are bittersweet for Catherine Cartwright-Roberson.

— Detroit Free Press, "Cass Tech class of '67 recalls Detroit riot: 'It was traumatic'," 23 July 2017
The Deptford pink (Dianthus armeria) is not in the same league as more famous and rapacious invaders like phragmites, mugwort or bittersweet.

— dave taft, New York Times, "Dainty Invader: the Deptford Pink," 26 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bittersweet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of bittersweet

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Seed Plant Terms

aubergine, box, bramble, briar, composite, perpetual, pulse, trefoil

bittersweet

adjective

Definition of bittersweet

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

See bittersweet defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of bittersweet from the Web

But Greponne says it’s an emotional, bittersweet day.

— rebecca lurye, Courant Community, "New Britain Race In The Park A Bittersweet Mother's Day Tradition," 12 May 2018
For MacLure, an only child, fast-approaching motherhood is bittersweet.

— Washington Post, "‘Shouting into the void’: Miscarriages color mom-to-be’s art," 11 May 2018
There’s a bittersweet flavor to Google’s new ventures, with the sugar kick of an awesome new convenience being accompanied by the aftertaste of ever-greater dependence on this single almighty company.

— vlad savov, The Verge, "At I/O, Google showed its willingness to change and shape our lives," 9 May 2018
These movies deal with motherhood from complex angles, exposing the bittersweet realities and disappointments often found in one of the most important relationship in people's lives.

— refinery29.com, "The Most Heartbreaking Movies About Motherhood," 9 May 2018
Dessert options include Fair Trade bittersweet chocolate mousse torte and lavender lemon cake 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, May 13.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "117 ways to celebrate mom: Your San Diego guide to Mother's Day brunches, lunches and dinners," 7 May 2018
Instead, Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes is largely a story of black male brilliance, which, as a female viewer and musician, was bittersweet.

— maiysha kai, The Root, "Tribeca Film Festival 2018: A New Film on Blue Note Records Takes Us Beyond the Notes," 27 Apr. 2018
The flowers are edible too and have a mildly bittersweet flavor.

— the editors of organic life, Good Housekeeping, "8 Backyard Weeds You Can Actually Eat," 3 Apr. 2017
For Alyssa’s best friend, Abigail Price, May 1 is a bittersweet day.

— wells dusenbury, Sun-Sentinel.com, "On her birthday, friends and family remember Parkland shooting victim Alyssa Alhadeff," 2 May 2018

First Known Use of bittersweet

1576

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

BITTERSWEET Defined for English Language Learners

bittersweet

adjective

Definition of bittersweet for English Language Learners

: having both bitter and sweet flavors
: combining sadness and happiness

BITTERSWEET Defined for Kids

bittersweet

noun bit·ter·sweet \ ˈbi-tər-ˌswēt \

Definition of bittersweet for Students

1 : a poisonous vine originally of Europe and Asia with purple flowers and red berries

2 : a poisonous North American woody climbing plant with orange seed capsules that open when ripe to reveal red seeds

bittersweet

adjective

Definition of bittersweet for Students

: being partly bitter or sad and partly sweet or happy

He had bittersweet memories of summer camp.

Medical Dictionary

bittersweet

noun bit·ter·sweet \ ˈbit-ər-ˌswēt, ˌbit-ər-ˈ \

medical Definition of bittersweet

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

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See words that rhyme with bittersweet Spanish Central: Translation of bittersweet Nglish: Translation of bittersweet for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bittersweet

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bittersweet

Definition of bittersweet

Recent Examples of bittersweet from the Web

First Known Use of bittersweet

Other Seed Plant Terms

bittersweet

Definition of bittersweet

bittersweetly

bittersweetness

Recent Examples of bittersweet from the Web

First Known Use of bittersweet

Other Food Terms

BITTERSWEET Defined for English Language Learners

bittersweet

Definition of bittersweet for English Language Learners

BITTERSWEET Defined for Kids

bittersweet

Definition of bittersweet for Students

bittersweet

Definition of bittersweet for Students

Medical Dictionary

bittersweet

medical Definition of bittersweet

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