bitterness

noun

Definition of bitternessnext
1
as in hostility
a deep-seated ill will he still harbored an implacable bitterness against the company that had fired him

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2
as in bite
a harsh or sharp quality the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated

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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

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4
as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression complained with great bitterness about the ill treatment he had always received

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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 bitterness But few, if any, can match the tradition, scale, and bitterness of the yearly clash between Alabama and Tennessee on the third Saturday in October. — Austin Evans, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2026 Written with a reporter’s sharp eye for detail and a remarkable lack of anger or bitterness, this is a compelling story of courage and grace. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026 In bitterness and grief, Jay goes scuba diving to recover his father’s body and gets swallowed by a sperm whale. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity notes, others for a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter flavor. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 Arugula’s natural bitterness kicks off digestion before the first bite, cueing saliva, stomach acid and digestive enzymes that help the body prepare to break down a meal. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026 Why arugula may help digestion The whole pitch hinges on one thing, bitterness. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 The changing household and the bitterness of their parents’ split affected the future royal, Diana’s brother Charles Spencer told The Sunday Times in 2020. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 22 Sep. 2026 Instant coffee intensifies sweetness and balances bitterness, creating a rich, robust chocolate profile. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
  1. hostility
  2. bite
  3. chill
  4. severity
  5. grudge
  6. edge
  7. chilliness
  8. anger
Noun
  • That does not mean that everyone who supports a ban is motivated by hostility toward women.
    — Jesse Rhodes, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Weil offers an extreme version of this hostility to the self.
    — James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • The alternate versions certainly add extra bite, and a few outtakes could have made it to the main tracklist.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Pieces of fish are hand sliced to the ideal thickness and length, and beautifully adorned with garnishes that dazzle the eye and strategically heighten every bite.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Highs across the Houston area are expected to reach only the upper 60s or lower 70s, with breezes adding to the chill.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 17 Oct. 2026
  • October is spooky season, and this week's offerings from Disney+ and Hulu lean into the chills and thrills.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • But genuinely funny moments are rare, badly outnumbered by done-to-death musings regarding the mysteries of being alive and torturous melodramatic moments in which Klara dully absorbs the severity of Josie’s illness and Chrissy’s sorrow.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Gassman emphasized that the severity of coastal flooding will depend largely on weather conditions.
    — Ted Scouten, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Greaves kept his cameras rolling, catching legends affectionately reminiscing, airing grudges, grousing about the next generation and, occasionally, demanding credit where credit is due.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Cohan joins the eight-episode series as Catherine ‘Cat’ Keegan, a former homecoming queen whose small-town charm has sharpened into something fiercer thanks to decades of old grudges and regrets.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • Yet, as in many speculative markets, sophisticated participants often have access to better information, stronger analytical tools and more advanced risk-management techniques than retail participants, giving them an informational edge.
    — Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The eastern edge of the park is the north-south alley that serves businesses along Laramie.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of edge
Noun
  • Or that Penélope Cruz’s sultry chilliness would jibe with either her male counterparts or Wilde’s diary-of-a-mad-housewife interpretation of a brittle, eager-to-impress woman brimming with creative frustration.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
Definition of chilliness
Noun
  • We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For property owners who poured their life savings into Camelot, the arrival of heavy machinery brings mounting anger over how local authorities handled the complex's long, troubled decline.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of anger

Browse Nearby Words

bitterly
bitterness
bit the dust
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Cite this Entry

“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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