Synonyms of bitterness

bitterness

noun

1

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will

he still harbored an implacable bitterness against the company that had fired him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostility
• grudge
• hatred
• animosity
• tension
• rancor
• antagonism
• enmity
• feud
• antipathy
• malice
• animus
• friction
• jaundice
• gall
• bad blood
• discord
• vindictiveness
• alienation
• virulence
• vendetta
• loathing
• disaffection
• hate
• vitriol
• estrangement
• conflict
• spite
• blood feud
• score
• unfriendliness
• coolness
• malignity
• venom
• spitefulness
• malignancy
• strain
• inhospitableness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amity
• hospitality
• friendliness
• cordiality
• sympathy
• friendship
• civility
• understanding
• amiability
• neighborliness
• empathy
• goodwill
• comity
• amicability

2

as in bite

a harsh or sharp quality

the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bite
• edge
• acidity
• harshness
• severity
• acerbity
• acrimony
• spice
• sharpness
• poignancy
• pungency
• acridity
• roughness
• tartness
• poignance
• acuteness
• tang
• punch
• acridness
• asperity
• severeness
• acidness
• keenness
• shrillness
• ginger
• acrimoniousness
• virulence
• vitriol
• maliciousness
• raucousness
• pointedness
• cattiness
• thorniness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• softness
• gentleness
• mildness
• kindliness

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• chill
• chilliness
• coldness
• bleakness
• bite
• rawness
• sharpness
• cold
• nip
• crispness
• nippiness
• briskness
• iciness
• frigidity
• freeze
• frostiness
• frigidness
• wintriness
• gelidity
• snap

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warmth
• warmness
• heat
• balminess
• hotness
• sultriness

4

as in severity

biting sharpness of feeling or expression

complained with great bitterness about the ill treatment he had always received

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostility
• severity
• anger
• malice
• bile
• virulence
• corrosiveness
• acidity
• acrimony
• vitriol
• resentment
• acridity
• tartness
• venom
• virulency
• harshness
• acridness
• sourness
• jealousy
• asperity
• spite
• cattiness
• coldness
• animosity
• sternness
• mordancy
• gruffness
• rancor
• vindictiveness
• rudeness
• crossness
• surliness
• incivility
• vehemence
• scorn
• iciness
• acidness
• malevolence
• impoliteness
• relentlessness
• jaundice
• ungraciousness
• nastiness
• gall
• spleen
• pique
• sour grapes
• discourteousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• diplomacy
• kindness
• sweetness
• sympathy
• cordiality
• politeness
• courtesy
• tenderness
• civility
• graciousness
• geniality
• warmth
• compassion
• softness
• tactfulness
• smoothness
• urbanity
• suavity
• oiliness
• unctuousness
• suaveness

Example Sentences

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