bittersweet

noun bit·ter·sweet \ ˈbi-tər-ˌswēt \

|Updated on: 14 Jul 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

For Gulati, too, Wednesday’s win allowed him to come full circle from the Qatar defeat—though not without its own tinges of bittersweet.

— grant wahl, SI.com, "World Cup 2026 Vote Provides the Jolt U.S. Soccer Sorely Needed," 13 June 2018
Several students said the experience of graduating may be one of the most challenging and bittersweet of their four-year journey.

— alejandra reyes-velarde, latimes.com, "Glendale High graduates begin their futures with words of wisdom," 8 June 2018
Build the backbone To make the actual wreath frame, use willow or a vine like wisteria, grape or bittersweet.

— molly marquand, Good Housekeeping, "A Step-By-Step Guide To Creating Your Own Foraged Evergreen Wreath," 8 Dec. 2017
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

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

Lately, my trips to Sam’s have been bittersweet, despite the perfect sauce.

— jason nark, Philly.com, "Sam's Pizza's sweet sauce divides and binds my family at the Shore," 28 June 2018
In the end, the feeling was bittersweet — Mexico lost, yet there there was still hope for future games.

— sandra dibble, sandiegouniontribune.com, "¡Viva Korea! Losing to Sweden, Mexican soccer fans cheer Korean team," 27 June 2018
Speaking about Margaret is somewhat bittersweet for Kirby, who loved inhabiting the tortured character.

— julie miller, HWD, "The Crown: Vanessa Kirby Takes Us Inside Princess Margaret’s “Sexual Awakening”," 8 June 2018
Dajour Miles knew her bittersweet feelings would be difficult to explain Saturday at the conclusion of the Class 3A state track meet.

— rick armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News, "Injury can't stop West Aurora's Dajour Miles from repeating as Class 3A state champ in 400 meters," 20 May 2018
Café Japengo’s nearly 30 years in business can be likened to a typical restaurant meal: a flashy starter, a solid main course and a finale that’s bittersweet.

— michele parente, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Once-trendy Café Japengo to close Friday, a casualty of rising UTC prices, competition," 19 June 2018
This Chicago trip winds up being a bittersweet homecoming.

— dani deahl, The Verge, "What’s in your bag, Krewella?," 15 June 2018
For Sundra Oakley, the Jamaican-American actress who played Adeena, the episode still has a bittersweet edge.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Being One of the Only Black Actresses on Sex and the City Was a “Surreal” Experience," 8 June 2018
For Rick, the homage is bittersweet, considering younger entertainers like Tyson Beckford and Aventura have already been inducted and have theoretically done far less than The Ruler.

— kathy iandoli, Billboard, "Slick Rick Looks Back at His Three-Decade Legacy Since 'Great Adventures,' Hints at New Music on the Way," 21 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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