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 Its distinct warm, smoky, and toasted aromas, resulting from the roasting process, offer a unique flavor profile with less bitterness. — Carissa Chesanek, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Delicate notes of wild berries complement the citrusy hop character and crisp, dry finish, creating a perfect balance of fruity flavor and bitterness. — Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 21 July 2026 Instead of using that spotlight to win over new fans, however, players such as Angel Reese, Chennedy Carter, DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas projected bitterness and hostility toward the league's biggest attraction. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026 Since then, there has been bitterness; bitterness that is now the subject of multiple Argentina national-team chants. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 13 July 2026 As olives ripen, their oil content increases, texture softens and flavor becomes milder and less bitter – with the bitterness due to naturally occurring compounds called oleuropeins. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 11 July 2026 Mexican Americans have long risen up to defend ourselves and defy our haters, but there’s usually an underlying strain of bitterness and anger that kneecaps us at the worst possible moments. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 Tens of thousands continue to come each year, yet no widespread anger or bitterness grows. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026 In the case of Alito and Thomas, there is also a striking note of bitterness. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
  1. hostility
  2. bite
  3. chill
  4. severity
  5. grudge
  6. edge
  7. chilliness
  8. anger
Noun
  • On the obverse of this hostility is a genuine love of life, at least in some of its forms.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Given the extent of the disruption to oil exports from the Middle East since the start of hostilities between Washington and Tehran, most of the hikes announced by OPEC+ since March have had a negligible impact on the physical crude market.
    — Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Grab a bite at one of the nearby seafood restaurants or indulge in the property’s on-site sauna.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The state health department says that avoiding tick bites is the best way to avoid tularemia.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Simply mix the ingredients to combine, roll into a log, and chill until ready to use.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Miriam wore a navy-blue task jacket to ward off the loose chill of the morning.
    — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Courtney, an Army veteran who served with the 1st Ranger Battalion, immediately recognized the severity of his injury.
    — Tori Mason, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • But the Dodgers have downplayed the severity of that ailment and are under the impression that throwing doesn’t hurt it.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 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 frontier of what needs a human recedes every quarter, and the companies that know exactly where the line sits have a real edge.
    — Michael Wee, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, Yamamoto turned to his splitter for the first time, barely clipping the inside edge of the strike zone.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 2 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
  • Gallup polling found Gen Z’s anger toward AI rose from 22% to 31% over the past year, even as regular usage held roughly steady around half of the cohort, meaning a generation that keeps using a tool it’s increasingly frustrated with.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • Before the recording was played, Judge William Sullivan warned jurors not to allow sympathy, anger, passion or pity to influence their verdict.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 30 July 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 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bitterness for Spanish Speakers

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