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

Unless, that is, it’s designed as a contrast to the later saturations of the girls’ more elaborate designs, and the manga animation insert that stirringly helps to bring things to a bittersweet, though deeply satisfying, close. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 7 Sep. 2026

Japanese barberry and Asiatic bittersweet are the two biggest invasive plants in the state forest. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 7 Sep. 2026

Adjective

There’s a lot of bargain shopping right now The owner said the closing is bittersweet but the right time given some of the challenges in the retail space. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026

The award, which is bittersweet unto itself, breaks a record once set by Reiner’s own father, Carl, marking the longest span of years between acting wins. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

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

• 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