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
Astringent Hachiya persimmons must fully soften at room temperature before eating because chilling too early locks in bitterness.
—
Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
As oblivion approached, with all its attendant possibilities of panic or bitterness, Bowie summoned the generosity to evoke the ordeal of one prematurely dying man while also thinking and creating at the no less vast scale of life itself.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2026
If this does not happen, a sense of despair or bitterness results.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Red flags included bitterness or any metallic notes the beans may have picked up during processing.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Jan. 2026
Rivera eked out a razor-thin victory over Camilo in that race, which was marked by bitterness, with the two candidates accusing each other of being carpetbaggers who didn’t actually reside in his Senate district spanning north Bronx neighborhoods like Fordham, Belmont and Riverdale.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
But the ones that do get rewarded with a deep, meditative little cocktail, friendlier than a Toronto but still prickly with bitterness and stout with proof, a cocktail worth hunkering down with on these dark and interminable nights of January.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2026
Reheating of any kind, stovetop or microwave, will contribute bitterness.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 11 Jan. 2026
As oblivion approached, with all its attendant possibilities of panic or bitterness, Bowie summoned the generosity to evoke the ordeal of one prematurely dying man while also thinking and creating at the no less vast scale of life itself.
—Armin Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Of the many types of basil, the classic Italian 'Treviso' variety stands out for resisting bitterness, staying tender longer, and being slow to flower even as summer heats up.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2026
If this does not happen, a sense of despair or bitterness results.
—Shruti Mutalik, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Red flags included bitterness or any metallic notes the beans may have picked up during processing.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Jan. 2026
Rivera eked out a razor-thin victory over Camilo in that race, which was marked by bitterness, with the two candidates accusing each other of being carpetbaggers who didn’t actually reside in his Senate district spanning north Bronx neighborhoods like Fordham, Belmont and Riverdale.
—Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
But the ones that do get rewarded with a deep, meditative little cocktail, friendlier than a Toronto but still prickly with bitterness and stout with proof, a cocktail worth hunkering down with on these dark and interminable nights of January.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 3 Jan. 2026
Reheating of any kind, stovetop or microwave, will contribute bitterness.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
Noun
-
After years of fighting for its survival in the face of hacks and growing regulatory hostility, crypto’s fortunes abruptly change.—
Leo Schwartz,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Jewish and civil rights groups blasted the move as weakening safeguards, fueling criticism that Mamdani’s early agenda signals hostility toward Israel and the Jewish community.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
From comfort food classics to more elevated plates, several bites stood out at a preview event.—
Alexa Stone
January 9,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Guests will naturally gravitate towards these pairings, ensuring the perfect bite.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Despite a chill in the air on Saturday night, the energy outside the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood was electric as crowds lined up along Sunset Boulevard, hoping for a glimpse of the stars arriving at Vanity Fair and Amazon MGM Studios' third annual pre-Golden Globes party.—
Rachel Marlowe,
Vanity Fair,
11 Jan. 2026
-
And with the new year upon us and a biting chill in the air, now is the ideal time to prepare for the inevitable clutter caused by our hodgepodge of gardening tools.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Internal bleeding covers a wide range of severity, from life-threatening injuries to bruising.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Moore said the department has since adjusted both its tactics and decision-making protocols for wildland fires, particularly in high fire severity zones.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Neves Valente, a former Brown graduate student suspected to have been motivated by a lengthy grudge, shot and killed students Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook inside a final exam review session, according to authorities.—
Jared Kofsky,
ABC News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The move showcases House Republicans’ loyalty to the president and support for his political battles, as the vetoes had been seen as instances of Trump acting on political grudges.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
The Hill,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The sense of sunrise or sunset invokes a time of change, being on the edge.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Cropped bomber jackets add polish, edge, and proportion, all without overwhelming a smaller frame.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Did the man go too far, or was his anger justified?—
Kristie Keleshian,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
As Blacc hinted at, there is more than a little anger to go around about what happened before, during and since the fires, along with the sorrow and thousand other emotions.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
When Erika desires to celebrate with other fans in the city, tensions build during the match, and Erika becomes a target for misplaced hatred when the game takes a turn for the worse.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
10 Jan. 2026
-
His loathing for totalitarianism was among the very few hatreds Reagan ever held, his biographer Edmund Morris said.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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