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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bitterness
For the next 10 to 48 hours, the paste is gently stirred over very low heat, a step that cooks away any excess bitterness, acidity, and liquid.
—
Aleksandra Crapanzano, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
This brightness is anchored by the deep earthy bitterness of the Cynar, the Japanese Whiskey offers a soft grain finish, and the salt keeps the whole project from becoming too bitter.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Always use fresh, undamaged skins to prevent bitterness.
—Cathy Cassata, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
In this way, Blue Moon is ultimately a film about gay bitterness.
—Michael Cuby, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
That was my thought about Polarity’s bitterness from his own past and his relationship with his son in season one.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
The key is to tame their bitterness by blanching the slices quickly in the pasta pot, then sear them in olive oil to caramelize them slightly, soften their tang and give them golden edges.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Chocolate’s distinctive taste begins with cocoa beans, harvested from trees and fermented right on the cocoa farm to develop their aroma and reduce bitterness.
—New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
The apples brighten the natural sugar in the sweet potatoes and cut any bitterness from the Brussels sprouts.
—Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Aleksandra Crapanzano, The Atlantic, 27 Oct. 2025
This brightness is anchored by the deep earthy bitterness of the Cynar, the Japanese Whiskey offers a soft grain finish, and the salt keeps the whole project from becoming too bitter.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
Always use fresh, undamaged skins to prevent bitterness.
—Cathy Cassata, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
In this way, Blue Moon is ultimately a film about gay bitterness.
—Michael Cuby, Them., 24 Oct. 2025
That was my thought about Polarity’s bitterness from his own past and his relationship with his son in season one.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
The key is to tame their bitterness by blanching the slices quickly in the pasta pot, then sear them in olive oil to caramelize them slightly, soften their tang and give them golden edges.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
Chocolate’s distinctive taste begins with cocoa beans, harvested from trees and fermented right on the cocoa farm to develop their aroma and reduce bitterness.
—New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
The apples brighten the natural sugar in the sweet potatoes and cut any bitterness from the Brussels sprouts.
—Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
Noun
-
In 2018 and 2019, the two exchanged fire in rounds of hostilities that would frequently end within 48 hours.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Trump will need to hope for hostilities to be short-lasting, or for these voters to be forgiving.—
Javier Corrales,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Where lions kill quickly, wild dogs devour their prey alive, one bite at a time.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Five of the bakery’s brunch bites are lowering costs, with its Turkish eggs dish taking the largest drop at $3.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Stir briefly to chill, then (if in a mixing glass) strain over a large piece of ice in a rocks glass.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Wrap and chill until easy to handle, 1 hour.—
Jessica Saari Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yet, the severity of gendered crime during Partition wasn’t caused by an arbitrary upsurge of madness.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Allergic reactions vary in severity from mild symptoms such as hives and lip swelling to life-threatening complications, such as anaphylaxis, that may include fatal respiratory problems.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
And going after firms because the Administration has a grudge against a specific lawyer who works there is unprecedented, and represents a crude weaponization of executive power.—
Fabio Bertoni,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The mix of private-property culture, individualism, and the country’s fragmented zoning laws creates ideal conditions for personal grudges to solidify into real estate.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Edis, chief of the Landon family office and a protégé of its founder, the late swashbuckling billionaire Timothy Landon, who’s legendary as the chief political advisor to his military school chum, the sultan of Oman, notes that Swain gives Houlihan Lokey an extra edge.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
1 Nov. 2025
-
This is the original pool, an infinity-edge spot where, years ago, Bobby would spend hours splashing and then join us at Lotus for lunch.—
Jacqui Gifford,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Our hero is also being coveted by a crime boss, and as he gets pulled further and further into this world, Farrell has to show his inner violence and anger breaking through.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Symptoms can include memory loss, impulse control problems, anxiety, depression and anger issues.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
My darling, hatred takes the beauty away.—
Tracee Ellis Ross,
Glamour,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Muschietti touched on this in his movies — the bullying of Mike Hanlon and the hate-crime murder of Adrian Mellon — including the way Pennywise fosters and foments the hatred already lurking in the hearts of Derry’s citizens.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.
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