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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
-
One unbearable sequence has Chiang coming back angry in the middle of the day and suddenly raping Chuan in their bedroom.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
-
In late July, centrist independent US Senator Angus King released a startlingly angry statement.—
Jack Sheehan
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
The characters have this sharp, biting, British humor.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Aug. 2025
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
The midweight fabric is perfect for layering on chillier fall days, while the snap closure leaves room for easy venting.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
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This jacket is constructed with a mix of polyester and spandex, which is lightweight enough for warmer fall days but still provides enough warmth when temperatures are on the chilly side.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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His narration is a constant pleasure — mournful, wry, and suffused with a world-weary poetry.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The first season of The Office was particularly unpleasant at times, with some of Michael’s most appalling behavior, and The Paper avoids this almost entirely.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
If the egg smells unpleasant or has discoloration, discard the egg.—
Merve Ceylan,
Health,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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