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

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

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bittersweet

• incomplete
• indiscreet
• marguerite
• obsolete
• overeat
• overheat
• parakeet
• stillingfleet
• superheat
• amit
• athlete
• backseat

Kids Definition

bittersweet

1 of 2 noun

bit·​ter·​sweet ˈbit-ər-ˌswēt 

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 

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