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

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