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 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 The Spritz, like most Aperol drinks, lean heavily into its summery qualities and try to hide the bitterness under the rug. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026 The final touch—a shiny ganache glaze—sets into a soft matte finish, adding sweetness and a light cocoa bitterness that perfectly complements both batters. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026 Rare Earth is best known for air-roasting its coffee beans, which removes the bitterness from the coffee, according to the company. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 17 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
  • Syrian families in Magdeburg are weighing whether to stay, as AfD campaign promises of faster deportations and tighter asylum limits deepen fears of hostility and exclusion.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • This online abuse and hostility experienced by trans people in the UK is part of a broader picture of the UK becoming a hostile climate for trans people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • Decadently delicious is the Champagne Bar, where Ruinart blanc de blancs gives way to Dom Pérignon as small bites from oysters with Champagne foam to potato purée with white truffle and egg yolk arrive before you.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Partita takes a poem that vibrates with political energy and domesticates it, sapping this very famous verse of its revolutionary bite.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • The sudden sense of isolation and the threat represented by the low-Hz will send a chill up your spine.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • After six days, 57% of study participants who had VYD2311 injected into the muscle of their upper arm reported headaches, chills, fatigue or pain at the injection site — the typical side effects associated with vaccinations.
    — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Among various scientific projects, his NCBRS Worldwide Foundation is partnering with the University of Dusseldorf to map the variance in the severity of symptoms seen across NCBRS patients.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • However, baseline motor and cognitive measures were similar among participants in the new study, and the associations were still apparent after researchers adjusted for disease severity.
    — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Phil Collins has let go of his decades-old grudge against Paul McCartney.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Most self-help books say anger and grudges are self-defeating — there’s that line everybody uses that holding a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
    — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • To continue to compete at the cutting edge, OpenAI needs to keep raising cash.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The quick short corner surprised Greenville (6-16-5), and Barea hit the edge of the 18-yard box before lifting a cross to the far post.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 4 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
  • Investors are closely watching the government's next moves in a highly indebted country where street anger has often been tamed with more state spending.
    — Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Week six is now upon us, and with that, several data points are now available for prognosticators and experts alike to draw from and anger fans with in the process.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 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 12 Oct. 2026.

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