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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bitter
Read the stories Still, the KGB was watching, and Miller, shambling, bitter and broke, made a tempting target.
—
Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Musk sounded bitter on the call with investors that followed, blaming the company’s misfortune on protesters who have raged at Tesla dealerships around the world over his role running DOGE and his ardent support of far-right politicians.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
Excerpts of Michel’s interviews with McVeigh reveal a man who is still bitter from enduring bullying as a young child.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Everything else, from the tornado that rips through town to the bitter rivalry between Staten and his former brother-in-law Davis (Eoin Macken), is just so much fodder for make-outs or break-ups.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Musk sounded bitter on the call with investors that followed, blaming the company’s misfortune on protesters who have raged at Tesla dealerships around the world over his role running DOGE and his ardent support of far-right politicians.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
Excerpts of Michel’s interviews with McVeigh reveal a man who is still bitter from enduring bullying as a young child.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Everything else, from the tornado that rips through town to the bitter rivalry between Staten and his former brother-in-law Davis (Eoin Macken), is just so much fodder for make-outs or break-ups.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
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An angry man, the same one from earlier, bellows at Jackson as he is muscled off the ball, and there are more expletives as Chelsea pass it backwards after getting close to Everton’s penalty area.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
In 2010, under pressure over the healthcare overhaul that became known as Obamacare, a number of House Democrats skipped public events after facing angry town halls the previous summer.—
Steve Peoples and Thomas Beaumont,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Lotions in particular remove hair from the root, are less painful than wax strips, and are much cheaper than laser hair removal and electrolysis.—
Danielle Jackson,
Glamour,
29 Apr. 2025
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Like many things in life, trying to fix something later is much more painful.—
Kevin Campbell,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The word itself began life as a British colonial term, probably a corruption of kutu, a Malay word for lice and other biting insects.—
Bruce Handy,
The Atlantic,
16 Apr. 2025
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But the two-hour, 40-minute script by Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan is smart, biting, playful and swift-paced.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Vietnamese refugees who got a warm welcome from America puzzle at family separations, harsh rhetoric In Vietnam, Lam had owned three companies.—
Anh Do,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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President Donald Trump has launched harsh immigration actions in his first 100 days in office—detaining more people for immigration violations, allowing arrests outside schools and courthouses, and sending more than 200 Venezuelan men to be imprisoned in El Salvador.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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What To Know In most states, SNAP beneficiaries are able to purchase only cold foods for preparation at home, as well as snacks and drinks.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
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In a medium denim wash, the jacket looks great with light or dark clothes and is perfect for layering when the weather takes a cold dip.—
Robin Raven,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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After many storms and boat impacts, their only pier is no longer safe to use so the locals have to wade out to the arriving dhows to unload in choppy and quite chilly waters.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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On a chilly, cloudy morning in New York state's Rockland County, the Rev. Steven M.P. Neier led a joyful yet solemn Mass on April 21 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Congers.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The band played somber hymns marking Good Friday, a mournful day during Holy Week.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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At the vigil, the atmosphere appeared to be both mournful and celebratory of Scooter’s life.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Doing so consumes water, requires the use of often eco-unfriendly cleansers, and adds an unpleasant task to janitors' daily duties.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
25 Apr. 2025
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But that’s another unpleasant truth that is best left unspoken.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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