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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Merv Griffin and Johnny Carson spent years as bitter rivals on competing talk shows.
—
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 28 Feb. 2026
This is a hygiene concern and can affect the taste of your morning brew, leaving coffee bitter or stale.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Judea had a bitter personal taste of it with the cancellation of today’s annual Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture at UCLA after vociferous threats by students to disrupt the event.
—Elliott Broidy, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
But during the couple’s bitter and years-long divorce battle, the domestic violence allegations resurfaced and reportedly contributed to the actor’s estrangement from most, if not all, of his six children.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 28 Feb. 2026
This is a hygiene concern and can affect the taste of your morning brew, leaving coffee bitter or stale.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Judea had a bitter personal taste of it with the cancellation of today’s annual Daniel Pearl Memorial Lecture at UCLA after vociferous threats by students to disrupt the event.
—Elliott Broidy, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2026
But during the couple’s bitter and years-long divorce battle, the domestic violence allegations resurfaced and reportedly contributed to the actor’s estrangement from most, if not all, of his six children.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
-
Fans have been angry that the production fired actor Melissa Barrera for speaking out in favor of Palestine.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Julia Ross, who loves Cunningham for her fourth grader, felt angry that Kennedy came to the school for what felt to her like a photo opportunity.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But a child does not have the emotional or cognitive framework to process adult relationship details, especially the painful or blame-filled parts of a divorce.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
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Tendonectomy is less painful than onychectomy; a study from Cornell University found that 67 percent of cats resumed normal behavior three days after tendonectomy, compared with just 44 percent for onychectomy.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Chill Factor Perhaps the most biting statistic of the season so far is the temperature.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The scene, however, of Myers skating around for warmups and enjoying some time with his family underscored the harsh realities of trade deadline season for the players — and the families — directly involved.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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While many ground covers are resilient and can thrive in harsh growing conditions, such as areas with full sun and dry soil, environments that are overly damp and soggy can be tricky for certain ground covers.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This year, Russia has worked to keep Ukraine cold, presumably in an attempt to turn us against each other.—
Daria Kolomiec,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The orange juice is cold and freshly pressed, the espresso dark and strong, the tea served with a strainer (because proper leaves are used).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Viottiset 2-piece High-neck Loungewear Even though the weather is getting warmer, this high neckline might still come in handy on chilly mornings or evenings.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
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Nothing is more comforting on a chilly day than a steaming bowl of homemade soup.—
Carole Kotkin,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom shakes his head, seeming more mournful than angry.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But blackouts have become an unpleasant routine.—
Israel Melendez Ayala,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Standing water, combined with food residue, can create unpleasant odors.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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