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
The Knicks' team defense in the first two rounds was good enough, but not against their bitter rivals in the conference finals.
—
Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
With French soccer already in financial turmoil and facing another potential crisis after talks over a Ligue 1 TV rights deal broke down again in April, even some fans of PSG’s bitter rival Olympique de Marseille (OM) have gotten behind Les Parisiens.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
In addition to setting the stage for a bitter primary in a cycle where several GOP incumbents are facing serious challengers from within, national Republicans fear that Huizenga mounting a Senate run could put his own relatively safe district into play for Democrats.
—Marisa Schultz, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
And that’s a bitter bit of irony — not just for him, either.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
With French soccer already in financial turmoil and facing another potential crisis after talks over a Ligue 1 TV rights deal broke down again in April, even some fans of PSG’s bitter rival Olympique de Marseille (OM) have gotten behind Les Parisiens.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
In addition to setting the stage for a bitter primary in a cycle where several GOP incumbents are facing serious challengers from within, national Republicans fear that Huizenga mounting a Senate run could put his own relatively safe district into play for Democrats.
—Marisa Schultz, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
And that’s a bitter bit of irony — not just for him, either.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
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Major tennis governing bodies moved to combat online abuse and published last year a report that attributed nearly half of abusive social media posts to angry gamblers.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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Testimony in a Placer County murder trial continued Tuesday with an investigator reciting angry emails over a $1.3 million loan for a fledgling business between a Lake Tahoe-area couple and their former Major League Baseball player son-in-law who is accused of shooting them.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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For millions of Americans, the road to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is slow and painful, sought only when symptoms become unmistakable.—
Louise Jacobsen Fisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
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And sometimes, that transformation, though painful, can deepen our capacity for compassion, connection, and appreciation for the precious gift of life itself.—
Charell G. Coleman,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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But when Afrikaners began to take a serious interest in Mr. Trump’s refugee program, the biting remarks were unleashed.—
Zimasa Matiwane,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
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Katy Perry is continuing to catch strays, this time from the most biting demographic of all: the pop girlie fandom.—
Jessica Wang,
EW.com,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Of the treaty’s three American signers—John Adams, John Jay and Benjamin Franklin—Franklin was said to have taken the harshest line against the loyalists.—
Greg Daugherty,
Smithsonian Magazine,
4 June 2025
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Netflix released the trailer for the reality TV show on YouTube on Wednesday, which starts with a voice-over of a cheerleader talking about how the DCC will always be in each other’s lives before explaining the harsh reality of trying out to be a Cowboys cheerleader with all the talent.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Aldi may carry kosher items, but the stores don’t have cold and hot deli counters or butchers who customize cuts.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2025
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Following a horrific incident that destroys what’s left of his emotional stability, he is assigned to a high-profile cold case that forces him to confront his inadequacies.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 May 2025
Adjective
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The day was chilly, but the sun shone through the trees.—
Anna Grace Lee,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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In keeping with that theme, rooms have outdoor showers (with heaters for those chilly Utah mornings), a communal patio with Uno cards, a drive-in theater and a food truck dishing out burgers and fries almost every night.—
DeMarco Williams,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The Defender published several obituaries, mournful but proud.—
Victor Luckerson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 May 2025
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Trump, meanwhile, drew the public’s attention for wearing a dark blue suit and a lighter blue tie in a sea of mournful black attire.—
Darlene Superville,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Castillo’s short novel is a giddy character study of an unpleasant young male type.—
Jasmine Vojdani,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
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To neutralize unpleasant smells, add a few pots of aromatic herbs, like rosemary and lavender.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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