as in sorrowfully
with feelings of bitterness or grief
cried bitterly after her grandmother died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 bitterly
Tom’s final epiphany related to his estranged son isn’t earned, but not because of Ruffalo; his performance cuts a fine line between bitterly self-destructive and warmly spiritual.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
San Francisco officials fought bitterly against Waymo and now-defunct Cruise robotaxis from General Motors, after their vehicles repeatedly blocked traffic and emergency vehicles, with Cruise the main perpetrator.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Today, its surface is bitterly cold, with most of its underground water frozen into a thick shell of ice, with some remaining as a salty brine trapped below.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The party fought bitterly against the reformers targeting this assault on democracy.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Talks to finalize the world’s first treaty on plastic pollution in Geneva, Switzerland collapsed in failure Friday as countries remained bitterly divided how to tackle the crisis.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The jury heard that a year before the attempt on Ali's life, Nazir and his dad, Mohammed Aslam, were injured in a fight at a clothing shop owned by Ali's father — after which Nazir recruited his lover to commit murder as the two families bitterly feuded, the BBC reported.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Outside Iran, the opposition can seem bitterly divided, with some parts of the diaspora embracing Pahlavi’s leadership and others in disarray.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2025
When similar legislation came up in March, Democrats bitterly split over what to do.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
San Francisco officials fought bitterly against Waymo and now-defunct Cruise robotaxis from General Motors, after their vehicles repeatedly blocked traffic and emergency vehicles, with Cruise the main perpetrator.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
Today, its surface is bitterly cold, with most of its underground water frozen into a thick shell of ice, with some remaining as a salty brine trapped below.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2025
The party fought bitterly against the reformers targeting this assault on democracy.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Talks to finalize the world’s first treaty on plastic pollution in Geneva, Switzerland collapsed in failure Friday as countries remained bitterly divided how to tackle the crisis.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
The jury heard that a year before the attempt on Ali's life, Nazir and his dad, Mohammed Aslam, were injured in a fight at a clothing shop owned by Ali's father — after which Nazir recruited his lover to commit murder as the two families bitterly feuded, the BBC reported.
—Ben Brachfeld, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Outside Iran, the opposition can seem bitterly divided, with some parts of the diaspora embracing Pahlavi’s leadership and others in disarray.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2025
When similar legislation came up in March, Democrats bitterly split over what to do.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterly
Adverb
-
He eventually was contacted by a Korean company to audition for them, but sadly, didn’t make it.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
This is, sadly, a lost art; now everything is an elaborate ballet of calling, texting, and planning, with little room for spontaneity.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
There is a painfully revealing example in Emma where Miss Bates is telling Emma about Jane Fairfax’s prospects as a governess to the Sucklings’ friends the Smallridges.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Sep. 2025
-
My day in court is painfully overdue.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The bristles are neither too floppy nor too stiff, neither too long nor too short, and are cut to the perfect rounded shape that’s just right for swirling pigment over the apples or spreading it along your cheekbones—without having to work too hard for a completely natural finish.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The Eagles went chasing on a third-and-8 situation at the Chiefs’ 33 at the start of the third quarter, and Smith went down hard after a deep pass from Hurts fell incomplete along the left sideline.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterly. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share