bitter

adjective

ˈbi-tər How to pronounce bitter (audio)
Definition of bitternext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bitter Underwood and Shires shook the long, forceful handshake of bitter enemies. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026 Better known as citrus greening, the disease starves the roots, results in bitter, misshapen fruit, and eventually kills the tree. — Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026 The early returns were surprising for a candidate who had entered the race with little name recognition but, by Election Day, had become an unlikely figure in the increasingly bitter contest between the two Democrats. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026 What begins with Steve’s desperate efforts to keep both women in his life soon escalates into a bitter war. — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
  1. angry
  2. painful
  3. biting
  4. harsh
  5. cold
  6. chilly
  7. mournful
  8. unpleasant
Adjective
  • Around the world, angry locals displaced from their neighborhoods by the high cost of living are revolting against the $135 billion short-term rental industry.
    — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • In person, the range-topping Spider looks hilariously boxy up front, deliciously wedgy from the side, and surprisingly angry from the back.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 15 July 2026
Definition of angry
Adjective
  • Biomimicked medical glue, inspired by the slime of a common garden slug (Arion subfuscus), can bond to bloody tissue and holds great promise for surgical applications and the treatment of painful lesions.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • For the past two decades, since I’d endured a painful divorce, the New York Times daily puzzle has been my source of comfort.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • The pacing is more frenetic, the narration more biting, the flashbacks more jarring, and the comedowns much harsher.
    — Hannah Giorgis Yohannes, Vanity Fair, 13 July 2026
  • Described as a biting political thriller in the tradition of Wild in the Streets and V for Vendetta, The Hunted is set in a dystopian America where trans people are brutalized and erased to the margins of society.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 June 2026
Definition of biting
Adjective
  • Wear rubber gloves because the cleaning ingredients are harsh, and scrub the inside of the oven door.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 July 2026
  • Pioneer Girl was considered too harsh about the realities of frontier life.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Inspectors also noticed that cold foods were being held at incorrect temperatures, according to the report.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Ceviche arrives bright and cold, sharpened by citrus, softened by fresh seafood, and lifted with herbs and heat.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
Definition of cold
Adjective
  • On a chilly afternoon in March 2018, two people were found slumped on a bench in an outdoor shopping complex in the city’s center.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Warm, soft, and timeless, this full-zip hoodie is perfect for wearing on a chilly plane, then tossing in a suitcase after the flight.
    — Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2026
Definition of chilly
Adjective
  • The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
    — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
  • The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
    — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Definition of mournful
Adjective
  • Anyone concerned about coming down with this very unpleasant sickness should avoid lettuces for the time being, says Rabia de Latour, a gastroenterologist at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
  • Like them, his music seesaws between aggressive and playful, between crowd-pleasing and purposefully unpleasant.
    — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 14 July 2026
Definition of unpleasant

Browse Nearby Words

bitten the dust
bitter
bitterly
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Cite this Entry

“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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