1
as in angry
having or showing deep-seated resentment
a bitter attitude about always having to work on Saturday she's still bitter about how her family treated her so unfairly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
discovering that he had been cut from the crew team was a bitter disappointment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
a bitter wind was stinging the faces of the skiers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in harsh
difficult to endure
a bitter lesson about money and friendship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature
a bitter February day for this part of the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a bitter, rainy day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
a bitter cry of grief
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
had to face the bitter truth about their marriage
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 bitter
Read the stories Still, the KGB was watching, and Miller, shambling, bitter and broke, made a tempting target.
—
Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Musk sounded bitter on the call with investors that followed, blaming the company’s misfortune on protesters who have raged at Tesla dealerships around the world over his role running DOGE and his ardent support of far-right politicians.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
Excerpts of Michel’s interviews with McVeigh reveal a man who is still bitter from enduring bullying as a young child.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Everything else, from the tornado that rips through town to the bitter rivalry between Staten and his former brother-in-law Davis (Eoin Macken), is just so much fodder for make-outs or break-ups.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Musk sounded bitter on the call with investors that followed, blaming the company’s misfortune on protesters who have raged at Tesla dealerships around the world over his role running DOGE and his ardent support of far-right politicians.
—Patrick George, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2025
Excerpts of Michel’s interviews with McVeigh reveal a man who is still bitter from enduring bullying as a young child.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Everything else, from the tornado that rips through town to the bitter rivalry between Staten and his former brother-in-law Davis (Eoin Macken), is just so much fodder for make-outs or break-ups.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
-
An angry man, the same one from earlier, bellows at Jackson as he is muscled off the ball, and there are more expletives as Chelsea pass it backwards after getting close to Everton’s penalty area.—
Simon Johnson,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
In 2010, under pressure over the healthcare overhaul that became known as Obamacare, a number of House Democrats skipped public events after facing angry town halls the previous summer.—
Steve Peoples and Thomas Beaumont,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Like many things in life, trying to fix something later is much more painful.—
Kevin Campbell,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Lotions in particular remove hair from the root, are less painful than wax strips, and are much cheaper than laser hair removal and electrolysis.—
Danielle Jackson,
Glamour,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
During the taping of a recent Netflix special, Kyle Dunnigan impersonated Musk onstage in a biting parody—the audience laughed, but Rogan sat mostly silent, avoiding eye contact, appearing unwilling to signal disloyalty to the tech mogul.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Its biting satire is complimented by engaging mechanics like the stratagems.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
28 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Wash your hair gently, moisturize regularly with scalp-friendly products, and avoid scratching or harsh brushing.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
-
This recent New York Times piece highlights some of the harsh realities along with the misperceptions.—
Jennifer Castenson,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
South of the border: 'Too scary' U.S. industries are already feeling a cold wind from up north.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
-
In colder regions, plants can be grown as an annual or overwintered indoors as a houseplant.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
Mornings can be chilly, afternoons can be warm, and cave tours can be downright cold.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
-
The poll also found chilly feelings toward DOGE’s cuts to the federal government among Peach State voters.—
Tara Suter,
The Hill,
6 May 2025
Adjective
-
That consistency was perhaps why, despite the Warriors’ stunning Game 1 win, the tone of their postgame interviews was at times mournful rather than celebratory.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
7 May 2025
-
One aspect is the story that is told, which is a very mournful story of a mother losing a child and then abandoning herself to the river as the child was.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Daily use by adolescents and adults can result in another unpleasant side effect: uncontrollable vomiting, according to a 2021 study.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
5 May 2025
-
Vivian Yin’s will contains an unpleasant surprise for her daughters.—
Ilana Masad,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share