bittersweet

noun

bit·ter·sweet | \ ˈbi-tər-ˌswēt

Definition of bittersweet

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

bittersweet

adjective

Definition of bittersweet (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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Examples of bittersweet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Dump two cups each of semisweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, bittersweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips in a big cast-iron skillet. — al, "Peepza: There are some decent Peeps recipes out there. This isn’t one of them.," 4 Apr. 2021 Still, the undefeated season felt a little bittersweet for the Trojans, who were determined to compete for a state title this year after capturing last year’s Division 1 South sectional crown. — BostonGlobe.com, "Bridgewater-Raynham girls’ basketball caps 12-0 finish with Southeast Conference title," 11 Feb. 2021 The first episode is nostalgic and a little bittersweet, but not exactly urgent. — James Poniewozik, New York Times, "‘The Real World’ Revisited: When Reality Had Bite," 5 Mar. 2021 In a bittersweet and moving speech on Sunday night, Chadwick Boseman's widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, accepted his Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. — Jenny Hollander, Marie Claire, "Chadwick Boseman's Wife, Taylor Simone Ledward, Accepts His Golden Globe Win," 1 Mar. 2021 Josh O'Connor gave a bittersweet and moving performance as Prince Charles... but Al Pacino as a gruff and growly Nazi killer? — David Canfield, EW.com, "Golden Globes 2021 winner predictions: EW picks who should and who will win," 22 Feb. 2021 On December 19, Reynolds shared a bittersweet, but heartfelt message regarding how his family of five plans to celebrate the holidays this year as everyone is encouraged to stay home in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. — Natasha Reda, Glamour, "Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's Kids Will Be Celebrating Christmas Differently This Year," 20 Dec. 2020 Once boiling, add 3 ounces (90 grams) bittersweet chocolate (72% or 85%) and 2 tsp. — Leticia Moreinos Schwartz, Bon Appétit, "Brigadeiros Are My Rich, Fudgy Holiday Gift of Choice," 9 Dec. 2020 The safety concerns as a result of the ongoing pandemic have made the overall holiday season bittersweet, Mike Boz said. — Bianna Golodryga, CNN, "One college student shares why he trekked home for Thanksgiving, and what he's doing to stay safe," 27 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The news was bittersweet for Liu, whose discovery of those burial ledgers in 2004 was the turning point for stopping the sale of Block 14. — oregonlive, "They were paved over and forgotten for decades. Now a cemetery garden will honor Chinese workers buried in SE Portland," 25 Apr. 2021 On Tuesday, news of the verdict also felt bittersweet for Santana. — Washington Post, "Five years before George Floyd, a bystander filmed another pivotal police killing. It nearly cost him everything.," 21 Apr. 2021 How bittersweet for Nicky is this reconnection with Jack's family? — Dan Snierson, EW.com, "This Is Us writer breaks down those what-if questions in Nicky's heartbreaking episode," 24 Mar. 2021 For many, the country beginning to open up and vaccinations becoming more widely available is bittersweet. — Jhodie-ann Williams, CNN, "What we can't wait to do when the pandemic is over," 13 Apr. 2021 At a table with his parents, Nancy and Pete, and wife Susan, Seiler says the closure is bittersweet. — Ben Crandell, sun-sentinel.com, "The last suppers at Franco & Vinny’s restaurant in Fort Lauderdale," 9 Apr. 2021 In this case, the beginning was was bittersweet, the slow movement of George Walker's First String Quartet, evincing a wistful melancholy in the hands of four orchestra musicians. — Rob Hubbard, Star Tribune, "Minnesota Orchestra strikes a hopeful note as it prepares to bring back audiences," 20 Mar. 2021 For Sheena Wagstaff, chairman of modern and contemporary art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the spring of 2020 was destined to be bittersweet. — New York Times, "March 12, 2020: The Night the City Sighed to Sleep," 11 Mar. 2021 The effect is bittersweet, said 59-year-old Roncskevitz, who lives in Benicia, Calif., and saw the images online. — Anna Almendrala, Los Angeles Times, "Making space for grief, an L.A. art exhibit honors healthcare workers killed by COVID-19," 11 Mar. 2021

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.