bittersweet

adjective

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

Examples of bittersweet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After five seasons of antics, laughs, and tears, Hacks has arrived at its bittersweet end. Alexandra Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026 Triple-chocolate espresso cookies with bittersweet wafers, milk chocolate chips, and dark chocolate bars, espresso powder, and a sprinkle of salt on top. Sarah Everett, The Spruce, 2 June 2026 Still, Sunday's final day of service was bittersweet for employees and patrons. Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 1 June 2026 Their tart banter in the Netflix hit doesn't rise to the toxic levels of their Roses relationship; in fact, the characters’ relationship ends on a more bittersweet and reflective note, as opposed to the movie’s grim comeuppance. Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bittersweet

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bittersweet was in 1576

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bittersweet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bittersweet. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

bittersweet

1 of 2 noun
bit·​ter·​sweet ˈbit-ər-ˌswēt How to pronounce bittersweet (audio)
1
: a poisonous woody vine of the nightshade family with purple flowers and oval reddish orange berries
2
: a North American woody vine with yellow seedcases that open when ripe to show the scarlet seed covers

bittersweet

2 of 2 adjective
: being both bitter and sweet
a bittersweet story

Medical Definition

bittersweet

noun
bit·​ter·​sweet ˈbit-ər-ˌswēt, ˌbit-ər-ˈ How to pronounce bittersweet (audio)
: a sprawling poisonous weedy nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) with purple flowers and oval reddish orange berries that is the source of dulcamara

More from Merriam-Webster on bittersweet

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster