embitter

verb

em·​bit·​ter im-ˈbi-tər How to pronounce embitter (audio)
embittered; embittering; embitters

transitive verb

1
: to excite bitter feelings in
embittered by divorce
2
: to make bitter
embitterment noun

Examples of embitter in a Sentence

The soldier was embittered by the war. the family refused to let their devastating collision with a drunk driver permanently embitter them
Recent Examples on the Web Beginning in the wake of Toby Fleishman’s divorce, the series appears at first to be very uncomplicated, with the angry, embittered Toby (Jesse Eisenberg) rebounding his way through New York City while ranting about his workaholic ex-wife, Rachel (Claire Danes). Lindsay Kusiak, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 June 2023 But with Republicans gaining control of the House and governor’s mansion the following year, that effort has since gone nowhere — embittering some unions against those who blocked it. Antonio Olivo, Washington Post, 9 June 2023 But she’s embittered by the long-ago loss of her two children — Paloma, a baseball fan and labor union organizer who disappeared without a trace 40 years ago, and Santiago, a U.S. Army corporal, who was hit by a car. San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2023 Most aficionados agree that Monopoly, if not a bad game, is at the very least designed to embitter its players. Simon Parkin, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2023 To an extent not seen in a century, America’s two major parties have gone to battle over the rules that govern voting — an intensifying fight that threatens to dominate and embitter the country’s politics. Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2021 Many of the impulsive political intrusions by technology companies have done more to embitter American debate than to clean it up. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 14 Jan. 2021 In other words, impeachment embittered both sides —and also created a lot of winners, politically, many of them from Texas. Tom Benning, Dallas News, 6 Feb. 2020 While work can form a core part of a person’s identity, worklessness can depress and embitter. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 May 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'embitter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of embitter was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near embitter

Cite this Entry

“Embitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embitter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

embitter

verb
em·​bit·​ter im-ˈbit-ər How to pronounce embitter (audio)
: to make bitter
especially : to cause bitter feeling in
embitterment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on embitter

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