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
  • Funding for refugee support is drying up, hostility toward Ukrainians is growing, and Poland still lacks a long-term integration strategy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Iran accepted meaningful limits on its nuclear program in 2015, for instance, and reversed decades of hostility toward Saudi Arabia by normalizing ties in 2023.
    — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • It's usually transmitted through a bite from a bat, coyote, fox, raccoon or skunk.
    — Nicholas Lentz, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Eating it inspires an appreciation for the seamless integration of Mexican and Middle Eastern influences, melding to a state of emphatic brilliance in each bite.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Let Nerds syrup cool, then transfer to an airtight container and chill until ready to use (makes about 1¼ cups).
    — Bradleigh Mobley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The advisory follows glutathione’s use in the Altadena and Spokane wildfires and recalls at two pharmacies, where usage was linked to fevers, chills, severe headaches and other symptoms.
    — Martha Bellisle, Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Following a major hailstorm, for example, connected property intelligence can help carriers quickly assess affected neighborhoods, triage claims based on severity and deploy field resources where they're needed most.
    — David Tobias, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The 24-year-old Italian pulled out of this week’s Cincinnati Open with the same issue, and has been undergoing medical tests in Milan and Turin throughout August to assess its severity.
    — James Hansen, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Tennessee fans once expressed a grudge toward former coach Lane Kiffin by pelting the Neyland Stadium field with debris, including a mustard bottle and a golf ball, the latter of which struck Kiffin.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But whether William can continue holding a grudge against Harry with his brother geographically close to him again remains to be seen.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • L’Agence’s Lian jacket called my name immediately, delivering uptown elegance with a downtown edge when styled with jeans and a white tee.
    — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Stock up Defensive end R Mason Thomas The Chiefs are looking for more speed off the edge, and Thomas delivered.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 23 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
  • Their frustrations have ranged from anger over the tax incentives offered to certain projects to NIMBY-esque aesthetic concerns about acres upon acres of solar panels.
    — Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • This recent incident has caused a great deal of anger and frustration among the Taiwanese artistic community and general public as news has circulated online widely this week.
    — Vivienne Chow, ARTnews.com, 20 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 27 Aug. 2026.

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