1
as in angry
having or showing deep-seated resentment
a bitter attitude about always having to work on Saturday she's still bitter about how her family treated her so unfairly
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2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
discovering that he had been cut from the crew team was a bitter disappointment
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3
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
a bitter wind was stinging the faces of the skiers
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4
as in harsh
difficult to endure
a bitter lesson about money and friendship
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5
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature
a bitter February day for this part of the country
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6
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a bitter, rainy day
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7
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
a bitter cry of grief
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8
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
had to face the bitter truth about their marriage
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bitter
Fresh vegetables The vegetables imported to Milwaukee's Burmese shops from Southeast Asia include water spinach, Thai chili leaves, pennywort, okra and bitter melon.
—
Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The event in question is a period of five days before the 2002 soccer World Cup in South Korea and Japan, when the Irish national team witnessed a bitter — and very public — falling out between captain Keane and manager Mick McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan).
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
The French club have also qualified for the UEFA Conference League, with their six league-phase fixtures including a November home match against Brighton’s bitter rivals Crystal Palace.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Get the recipe > Sweet corn is lightly sizzled in ghee and tossed with juicy tomatoes, peppery dandelion greens, and smoky blue cheese for a salad that’s equal parts sweet, bitter, and tangy.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
The event in question is a period of five days before the 2002 soccer World Cup in South Korea and Japan, when the Irish national team witnessed a bitter — and very public — falling out between captain Keane and manager Mick McCarthy (played by Steve Coogan).
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
The French club have also qualified for the UEFA Conference League, with their six league-phase fixtures including a November home match against Brighton’s bitter rivals Crystal Palace.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025
Get the recipe > Sweet corn is lightly sizzled in ghee and tossed with juicy tomatoes, peppery dandelion greens, and smoky blue cheese for a salad that’s equal parts sweet, bitter, and tangy.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
-
But Newsom seems to have found his footing nationally by catering to angry anti-Trump Democrats, his conciliatory remarks in the aftermath of Kirk’s shooting notwithstanding.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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For example, long wait times, high prices and confusing models have left people angry with the car sales industry.—
Brandon Aversano,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Now supposedly dying from some terminal illness, Julian has gone total hermit mode inside of his cluttered London apartment, where the walls are festooned with the relics of his success and the backrooms are a junk pile of painful memories.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
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Dig a little deeper by comparing your top three financial goals and sharing your most painful and joyous money memories.—
Mary Clements Evans,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
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There’s Bud the biting cat, played by a feline named Tonic and who deserves a three-picture deal.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The once-beloved pastels will become harsh.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The pilgrimage, listed on the official calendar of jubilee events, comes as gay Catholics look to Pope Leo XIV to continue down the bold path of his predecessor to welcome into the church a group that has in the past faced alienation and sometimes harsh treatment.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The fair also will feature two stages of music, an entertainment dome, mouthwatering festival food and plenty of cold beer.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
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In a study, the team describes how cooling a gas of radioactive atoms to temperatures colder than deep space could synchronize their radioactive decay.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In order to combat a chilly plane ride, a warm airport, and the crisp fall air upon arrival, light layers are essential.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Sep. 2025
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The blazer is also lined, which comes in handy on chilly evenings.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Lush cellos and mournful piano trills coexist with the overall less-is-more sound.—
Jae-Ha Kim,
Rolling Stone,
10 Sep. 2025
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Similarly, the discreetly mournful compositions of Giorgio Matteo and Aki Oliviero’s score hover politely on the periphery of the (in)action, careful not to intrude.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Increase your fiber intake slowly and drink plenty of water to reduce unpleasant side effects like cramping and bloating.—
Courtney Southwick,
Health,
8 Sep. 2025
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Any unpleasant government decision—such as the August order blocking voice calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, on the pretext of preventing scams and terrorist activity—tends to be perceived mostly with passive discontent and immediate adaptation with the search for alternative practical solutions.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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