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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bite
a harsh or sharp quality
the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bitterness
There was no detectable bitterness in his voice.
—
Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 21 May 2026
This matters because fermentation reduces bitterness and makes plant compounds, especially polyphenols, more available.
—Dr. Steven Gundry, CNBC, 19 May 2026
By the time Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record of consecutive baseball games played (2,130) on September 6, 1995, some of the bitterness was replaced by a national euphoria that had Pres.
—Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
The texture is velvety and slightly oily, with a touch of coffee bitterness that adds structure.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
In between them are interchanging layers of Wagyu sofrito, humming with annatto’s earthy, peppery bitterness, and Pecorino béchamel.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Charlotte struggled to surmount her anger and bitterness toward her once-dear sibling.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
This tendency, called marcescence, may have developed a few million years ago to discourage large mammals from browsing on trees in winter due to the bitterness of the tannin-rich leaves surrounding buds.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Lean malt profile, firm bitterness and layered aromatics.
—Blaine Callahan, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 21 May 2026
This matters because fermentation reduces bitterness and makes plant compounds, especially polyphenols, more available.
—Dr. Steven Gundry, CNBC, 19 May 2026
By the time Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s record of consecutive baseball games played (2,130) on September 6, 1995, some of the bitterness was replaced by a national euphoria that had Pres.
—Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026
The texture is velvety and slightly oily, with a touch of coffee bitterness that adds structure.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
In between them are interchanging layers of Wagyu sofrito, humming with annatto’s earthy, peppery bitterness, and Pecorino béchamel.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Charlotte struggled to surmount her anger and bitterness toward her once-dear sibling.
—Literary Hub, 12 May 2026
This tendency, called marcescence, may have developed a few million years ago to discourage large mammals from browsing on trees in winter due to the bitterness of the tannin-rich leaves surrounding buds.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 May 2026
Lean malt profile, firm bitterness and layered aromatics.
—Blaine Callahan, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
Noun
-
The onset of hostilities was enough to persuade around a hundred and eighty Democrats to support the measure.—
Jason Zengerle,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
As swirling rumors and escalating fears mount of imminent US-Israeli strikes, there is a growing sense of inevitability among many Iranians about the resumption of hostilities.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Other recommended dishes are the goat cheese bites and seared branzino with potatoes, peas and asparagus.—
Kate Williams,
AJC.com,
22 May 2026
-
The bite-sized show will run to 31 episodes and be available on the CandyJar microdrama platform.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Despite the chill of children, summer came, despite the winter of children, summer came.—
Valzhyna Mort,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
There’s also a chill place to hang post hanging ten, surf-wellness experiences, skateboarding clinics, and e-foiling.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Plus as climate change accelerates the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, this gap is becoming one of the most significant and underappreciated risks to global financial stability.—
Nina Seega,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
Its severity was rated S1, the second-highest classification.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Teller still carries a grudge over the feature.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
20 May 2026
-
To track down her mother, Lila teams up with her deadbeat father for a journey that includes grudge-settling, Russian criminals, and corrupt politicians.—
Diya Chacko,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The stalemate that existed has been broken, and the Republicans now seem likely to obtain a meaningful edge heading into the midterms.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Among the various aspects of the movie that its English title refers to, not least is the unhinged rampage Lina unleashes at a couple of schoolgirls, a gringa loca on the razor’s edge.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
In the years since, Danny struggled with anger problems that pushed his ex-wife away and left him estranged from his son.—
Britt Hayes,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
-
Hannah’s onscreen lover, Garrett, struggles with anger issues stemming from childhood trauma and an abusive father.—
Kenneal Patterson,
Vanity Fair,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Many exiles, however, disagreed with that view and said the incident had only renewed their hatred for Castro.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
-
America remains the only large country in history where Jews have become fully equal citizens under a constitutional order strong enough, so far, to withstand waves of hatred and scapegoating.—
Michael W. Sonnenfeldt,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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