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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 Magazine understands that an experience need not be melodramatic or unique to be deeply transformative, and that moments of joy or bitterness, confusion or clarity, can all sit side by side. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026 Don’t leave without trying the cold brew tamarindo, where the fruit’s tartness plays against the bitterness of the coffee. — Nikkita Nair, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2026 Instead, that generation’s gesture seems to be stymied or to miss its target and end in bitterness—which is precisely what gives these artists’ work at its best a poignancy on the other side of its aggression and humor. — Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026 The quality of the coffee seems a bit underwhelming, and its bitterness drowns out much of the perceptible campfire-ness. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 1 Sep. 2026 This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness. — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
  1. hostility
  2. bite
  3. chill
  4. severity
  5. grudge
  6. edge
  7. chilliness
  8. anger
Noun
  • Carriers have felt more comfortable bringing ultra-large container vessels through the area even with the hostilities in the Middle East lingering.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The surge in withdrawals comes as the ICC faces hostility from Washington and a leadership crisis after ousting its own chief prosecutor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • The goat is tender and deeply savory, the perfect vehicle for slathering charred avocado and queso for a truly melt-in-your-mouth bite.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Gummi Popz, chewy bite-sized squares filled with fizzing candy, went on sale earlier this year.
    — Dee-Ann Durbin, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Slow Cooker Beef and Lentil Soup This hearty soup is the correct answer to a winter chill.
    — Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The ever-present chill of mortality ensures that there’s also a lot of talk about who gets to go to heaven.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • No information was immediately available on the severity of the injuries.
    — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Contract terms, vendor requirements, safety programs and business continuity planning can reduce either the likelihood or financial severity of certain losses before financing enters the equation.
    — Randy Sadler, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Few people in her life would likely describe Stevie as angry or a grudge holder.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The story follows Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja seeking to overcome rivals and past grudges on his way to becoming Hokage, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • The Eagles were not as dominant in 2025, partly due to the regression of the depth in their secondary and the injuries sustained at edge rusher.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The facilities would include what’s known as an edge computing data center, which typically is much smaller than traditional data centers and which Global Stack says would require lower utility use and no municipal water connection.
    — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 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
  • Lee’s film is motivated less by anger and more by curiosity, compassion and a general confusion, as no one quite knows how to behave or feel or just be.
    — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In politics—according to Berman and, by extension, Longwell—the most convincing arguments play to love, sympathy, greed, fear, and anger.
    — Isaac Arnsdorf, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 2026.

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