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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 Arugula’s natural bitterness kicks off digestion before the first bite, cueing saliva, stomach acid and digestive enzymes that help the body prepare to break down a meal. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026 Why arugula may help digestion The whole pitch hinges on one thing, bitterness. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026 The Spritz, like most Aperol drinks, lean heavily into its summery qualities and try to hide the bitterness under the rug. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026 The final touch—a shiny ganache glaze—sets into a soft matte finish, adding sweetness and a light cocoa bitterness that perfectly complements both batters. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026 Rare Earth is best known for air-roasting its coffee beans, which removes the bitterness from the coffee, according to the company. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 17 Sep. 2026 Magazine understands that an experience need not be melodramatic or unique to be deeply transformative, and that moments of joy or bitterness, confusion or clarity, can all sit side by side. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026 Don’t leave without trying the cold brew tamarindo, where the fruit’s tartness plays against the bitterness of the coffee. — Nikkita Nair, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2026 Instead, that generation’s gesture seems to be stymied or to miss its target and end in bitterness—which is precisely what gives these artists’ work at its best a poignancy on the other side of its aggression and humor. — Barry Schwabsky, ARTnews.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
  1. hostility
  2. bite
  3. chill
  4. severity
  5. grudge
  6. edge
  7. chilliness
  8. anger
Noun
  • These advertisements stressed the importance of allowing Jews to immigrate to Palestine, a small country where there was hostility to such immigration.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Sentiment was buoyed by a fall in crude oil prices, sending stock markets higher, despite continued hostilities in the Middle East.
    — Jenni Reid,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • More recently, Costco debuted a seasonal strawberry shortcake sundae featuring vanilla or strawberry soft serve, shortcake bites and strawberry topping.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026
  • On Monday, the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment urged residents to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and reduce the risk of infection.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • My conversations and research left me much less shocked at that statistic that had sent chills down my spine a few weeks prior.
    — Luba Kassova, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Organizers who have engaged with potential donors said the administration’s targeting of political opponents and diversity initiatives seems to have put a chill on fundraising for their causes.
    — Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Other remarks made on Wednesday indicated that Judge wasn’t thrilled with Boone for disclosing the severity of his injury.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Intentionally injuring or killing a cat is considered animal cruelty, which is punishable as a first-degree misdemeanor or a third-degree felony depending on the severity and intent of the act.
    — Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • The gesture sets off a chain reaction, as a parade of strangers begins scribbling their own complaints, anxieties and grudges across the same tiles.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The only one of the group is Emma Thompson, who will hold a grudge for the rest of her life!
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • Diaby intercepted a pass in the attacking third, raced to the edge of the penalty box and blasted a rising shot into the net to cap the scoring in the 63rd minute.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • In places at low to moderate risk of fire, along the edges of flat valleys and lazy hills, growth in the FAIR Plan is ballooning, and it is being used to underwrite new suburban development.
    — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 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
  • With seven months left in his term, Macron’s approval ratings are near record lows, driven by anger over the rising cost of living and criticism of France’s growing debt and deficit and deteriorating public services.
    — Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Sadness and anger do not fully capture how our agency feels today.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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