1
as in hostility
a deep-seated ill will
he still harbored an implacable bitterness against the company that had fired him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bite
a harsh or sharp quality
the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness
there's a bitterness in the air, so let's build a fire in the fireplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
complained with great bitterness about the ill treatment he had always received
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bitterness
The subtle bitterness is complemented with creamy cheese and a mouth-puckering lemon dressing.
—
The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
There is no apparent bitterness on Ward’s part over being parked in Triple-A for so long, watching so many of his teammates get promoted.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, Crockett seems to hold some lingering bitterness.
—Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Cloves have a sweet flavor with a subtle bitterness and a strong, aromatic scent.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 5 Mar. 2026
As excited as Celebrini was to be back in San Jose, there was still some bitterness as to how the Olympic tournament ended.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
Matcha gives it a slight yet pleasant bitterness.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Dark roast has a bold smoky, chocolaty taste with less acidity and more bitterness than other coffee roasts.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
The rest is just bitterness on the Tesla founder’s part once the company became a rocket ship without him.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Mar. 2026
There is no apparent bitterness on Ward’s part over being parked in Triple-A for so long, watching so many of his teammates get promoted.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Still, Crockett seems to hold some lingering bitterness.
—Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Cloves have a sweet flavor with a subtle bitterness and a strong, aromatic scent.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 5 Mar. 2026
As excited as Celebrini was to be back in San Jose, there was still some bitterness as to how the Olympic tournament ended.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
Matcha gives it a slight yet pleasant bitterness.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Dark roast has a bold smoky, chocolaty taste with less acidity and more bitterness than other coffee roasts.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2026
The rest is just bitterness on the Tesla founder’s part once the company became a rocket ship without him.
—Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
Noun
-
Monday marks five years since a series of deadly shootings at local massage businesses shocked metro Atlanta and started a conversation about hostility toward Asian Americans across the country.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The price of oil had continued to rise since hostilities started, with the recent surge driven by concerns over global supply distribution and instability.—
Garfield Hylton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This cake is not only pretty in pink, but it's filled with sweet taste of strawberry in every bite.—
Nellah Bailey McGough,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Indoor sugar ants may bite humans if disturbed, but their bites are hardly noticeable.—
Alexandra Kelly,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Wind chills in the northern Plains could reach around minus 20 degrees, while parts of Texas could feel below freezing wind chills, the weather service said.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The hospital, which admitted Bolsonaro with high fever, sweating and chills, has also said that his inflammatory markers are increased.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Following the tornado watch, the weather service issued several severe thunderstorm warnings Tuesday evening, each varying in timeframe and potential severity.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Their targets appeared overwhelmed by the speed and severity of the offensive.—
Rose Horowitch,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Gibbs still harbors a major grudge from their New Orleans bar encounter when meeting Pride again on an NIS 1990s case.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Their secrets, grudges, and desires haven’ changes one iota.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hanson crossed Redwood Creek on a fallen log at the northern edge of the high severity burn, an elastic term that generally means an area where most of the trees are dead.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Most viewers will know that the two main protagonists ultimately become foes, which lends their on-screen relationship an edge amid the banter and bonhomie.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The decision closed a flashpoint case that has bitterly divided Israel since the soldiers were arrested in 2024 at the notorious Sde Teiman military prison, prompting anger from members of the far-right government and hard-line ultranationalists who violently overran the prison in protest.—
JULIA FRANKEL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
13 Mar. 2026
-
At the cemetery, drug-war widows unleashed on him the full force of their anger and anguish.—
Sheila Coronel,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All of Iran’s proxies share a deep ideological hatred of Israel and America.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Loud and proud Jews will not allow hatred or fear to deter our Jewish way of life or our presence in the world.—
Beth Bailey,
FOXNews.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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