bittersweet

1 of 2

noun

bit·​ter·​sweet ˈbi-tər-ˌswēt 

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

2 of 2

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

Noun

This is the last session on my current membership, which feels a little bittersweet. —R29 Team, Refinery29, 24 Sep. 2025

Wrap some twine around the neck of each jar, stick in a few branches of bittersweet, and voilà! —Savanna Bous, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025

Adjective

Darwin said the discovery of his daughter’s body brought bittersweet feelings. —Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025

Using a mix of spinach and bitter greens, like kale or mustard greens, creates a juicy and bittersweet combination. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bittersweet

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

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