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 Little united the Syrian rebels during the country’s civil war from 2011 to 2024 outside of their hatred of Assad, and Damascus has sought to cultivate this memory of bitterness to keep the country’s disparate groups together. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026 The tea supplies tannins and bitterness while maple and orange recreate that familiar balance of sweet, bitter and citrus. — Ryan Brennan august 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026 This crucial step concentrates the paste’s flavor and removes any raw spice bitterness. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 In his drive from Valdosta, Georgia, to Fort Worth, Xavier had time to mull his mission, hours alone in a pickup truck to brood on the bitterness that his father had stirred, or, perhaps, change his mind about killing him. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026 Tea supplies bitterness and body while maple and orange recreate that familiar balance of sweet, bitter and citrus. — Ryan Brennan august 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026 His bitterness over his broken dreams not only hangs over his own life, but threatens to shatter his family. — Steve Palopoli, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 Some taste like sweet custard with fruity flourishes, others carry a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter-like flavor. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Adding salt to coffee is a centuries-old tradition in countries like Turkey and Vietnam to enhance flavor and reduce bitterness. — Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
  1. hostility
  2. bite
  3. chill
  4. severity
  5. grudge
  6. edge
  7. chilliness
  8. anger
Noun
  • Iran doubled down on its demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, insisting that the US and its allies unfreeze its assets and end hostilities across the region.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • As the specter of rising interest rates and hostilities in the Middle East remain wildcards, skeptics are holding firm.
    — Bloomberg, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Every bite reflects Georgia’s crossroads of cultures, blending East and West into something uniquely delicious.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
  • According to the International Shark Attack File, there were 105 shark-human interactions and just 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Symptoms can also include chills, nausea, stomach cramps and vomiting.
    — Mark Strassmann, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills, according to the CDC.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Chapman, 33, should know Monday the severity of a hernia and a core muscle tear in his right abdomen.
    — Devin Bradshaw, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Since October 2023, the number and severity of settler attacks have skyrocketed, including arson and other destruction of property, the killing of livestock, violent assaults and murder, taking place almost every day.
    — Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Christian, convinced a nobleman had done it, had the man executed without much proof, a grudge that helped cost him his crown a few years later.
    — Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Lynn Rogers, who served as Kelly’s first lieutenant governor and was later appointed state treasurer, said Lawrence is somebody who holds onto grudges.
    — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • The scientists used cutting-edge airborne laser scanning technology and found hundreds of previously unknown earthworks.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The edges of your lawn and garden provide the perfect habitat for these plants, while fences and retaining walls can give support to growing poison ivy vines.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 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
  • Many of his supporters harbor deep frustration and anger at the American for-profit healthcare system.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Schore makes a similar distinction when discussing workplace anger.
    — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 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 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bitterness for Spanish Speakers

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