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

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

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 Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity notes, others for a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter flavor. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026 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 changing household and the bitterness of their parents’ split affected the future royal, Diana’s brother Charles Spencer told The Sunday Times in 2020. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 22 Sep. 2026 Instant coffee intensifies sweetness and balances bitterness, creating a rich, robust chocolate profile. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
  1. hostility
  2. bite
  3. chill
  4. severity
  5. grudge
  6. edge
  7. chilliness
  8. anger
Noun
  • When a quarrel over an inheritance revives old hostilities, their relationship comes under pressure from greed and treachery in a conflict not of their making.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Grynkewich's remarks had followed a tense weekend between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow launching fresh strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • The alternate versions certainly add extra bite, and a few outtakes could have made it to the main tracklist.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Pieces of fish are hand sliced to the ideal thickness and length, and beautifully adorned with garnishes that dazzle the eye and strategically heighten every bite.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • Highs across the Houston area are expected to reach only the upper 60s or lower 70s, with breezes adding to the chill.
    — Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 17 Oct. 2026
  • October is spooky season, and this week's offerings from Disney+ and Hulu lean into the chills and thrills.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • The severity of reactions can vary widely, ranging from mild symptoms to potentially life-threatening anaphylaxis.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Kidney Disease Can Disrupt the Balance Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can disrupt the balance of magnesium in the blood, depending on the severity.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Greaves kept his cameras rolling, catching legends affectionately reminiscing, airing grudges, grousing about the next generation and, occasionally, demanding credit where credit is due.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Cohan joins the eight-episode series as Catherine ‘Cat’ Keegan, a former homecoming queen whose small-town charm has sharpened into something fiercer thanks to decades of old grudges and regrets.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • Yet, as in many speculative markets, sophisticated participants often have access to better information, stronger analytical tools and more advanced risk-management techniques than retail participants, giving them an informational edge.
    — Aneri Jambusaria, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The eastern edge of the park is the north-south alley that serves businesses along Laramie.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 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
  • We are connected across continents in milliseconds, but too often separated by fear, anger, and mistrust.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For property owners who poured their life savings into Camelot, the arrival of heavy machinery brings mounting anger over how local authorities handled the complex's long, troubled decline.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of anger

Browse Nearby Words

bitterly
bitterness
bit the dust
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of jilt

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All