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 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 Looking back now, however, there is no bitterness attached to that chapter. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026 And after spending most of Sunday as the guy the crowd didn’t want to see close the deal, Clark didn’t respond with bitterness. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026 Crisp and refreshing, the drink’s grapefruit bitterness was softened by carbonation, giving Mexico’s national cocktail a lively upgrade. — Sari Kamin, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 June 2026 What occasionally helps Aethermead is Barnes’ palpable bitterness. — Ethan Beck, Pitchfork, 9 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
  • Renewed hostilities in the Persian Gulf also complicate the resumption of refining in the Middle East.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • However, Democratic lawmakers have denounced the resumption of the Iran war and the return to active hostilities, despite the interim cease-fire agreement signed June 17.
    — Callum Sutherland, Time, 14 July 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • After approximately two and a half hours in Alouette’s dining room, guests move into the lounge for final bites and a cocktail, coffee or tea.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Guests can also enjoy the Club Grill Steakhouse, light bites on Caldwell’s panoramic front porch, gourmet burgers at BRGR Kitchen & Bar, and alfresco dining at The LakeHouse.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 July 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Cover pasta salad and chill at least 30 minutes and up to 8 hours.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 July 2026
  • But the bigger problem is that hiring has cooled significantly, and young workers are always the first to feel the chill.
    — Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Newcastle feared an even more punitive settlement and spent months in dialogue and face-to-face meetings with UEFA officials to try to reduce the severity of the punishments.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Scientists say climate change from human activities is making conditions like drought more common, thus increasing the size, frequency and severity of wildfires.
    — Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Any person in Nathan’s position would be justified in feeling angry, but the fact that the person in question is Nathan — famously an explosive grudge-holder — only makes matters worse.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
  • Despite all of the damage that Mindich’s case has done to Fire Point’s reputation, Shtilerman holds no grudge against him.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • Now, Porsha is sharpening her knives before going in for the kill, adding a hilarious edge to an already delightfully macabre episode.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Ossoff has led in every public survey since April 2025, including a Fox News poll that showed him with a 56-43 edge over Collins.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 20 July 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
  • The quick exit has led to a reckoning within South Korea's football world — fueled by intense anger over accusations of favoritism and cronyism involved in the appointment of coach Hong Myung-bo.
    — Juliana Kim, NPR, 16 July 2026
  • Welcome to the strange phenomenon of people expressing anger or helplessness to online content creators or writers who don’t acknowledge their specific lifestyles or limitations.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 16 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 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bitterness

Nglish: Translation of bitterness for Spanish Speakers

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