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 This copper beauty serves up bold floral and citrus aromas, plus the signature IPA bitterness. — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Little united the Syrian rebels during the country’s civil war from 2011 to 2024 outside of their hatred of Assad, and Damascus has sought to cultivate this memory of bitterness to keep the country’s disparate groups together. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026 The tea supplies tannins and bitterness while maple and orange recreate that familiar balance of sweet, bitter and citrus. — Ryan Brennan august 9, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026 This crucial step concentrates the paste’s flavor and removes any raw spice bitterness. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 In his drive from Valdosta, Georgia, to Fort Worth, Xavier had time to mull his mission, hours alone in a pickup truck to brood on the bitterness that his father had stirred, or, perhaps, change his mind about killing him. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Aug. 2026 Tea supplies bitterness and body while maple and orange recreate that familiar balance of sweet, bitter and citrus. — Ryan Brennan august 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026 Some taste like sweet custard with fruity flourishes, others carry a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter-like flavor. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 Adding salt to coffee is a centuries-old tradition in countries like Turkey and Vietnam to enhance flavor and reduce bitterness. — Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
  1. hostility
  2. bite
  3. chill
  4. severity
  5. grudge
  6. edge
  7. chilliness
  8. anger
Noun
  • Funding for refugee support is drying up, hostility toward Ukrainians is growing, and Poland still lacks a long-term integration strategy.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Iran accepted meaningful limits on its nuclear program in 2015, for instance, and reversed decades of hostility toward Saudi Arabia by normalizing ties in 2023.
    — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • The lawsuit further alleged that Trader Joe’s put its crustless PB&Js peanut in packaging that too closely resembled the coloring of an Uncrustables box and featured a similar photograph of a sandwich with a bite taken out of one side.
    — Dee-Ann Durbin, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Throughout the night, creatives grazed on light bites from Goop Kitchen—the teriyaki salmon hand rolls were a crowd favorite—and bopped to the tunes from DJ Mariko.
    — Paul Chi, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of bite
Noun
  • That accusation, which could imply further arrests, has put a chill on the entire Russian telecom industry.
    — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • But Zardoya, best known as the singer of the Marias, brought a chill over the audience with a handful of tracks from Melt and her new EP, Bloom.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of chill
Noun
  • Tyreke Smith had a good month, but the severity of his hamstring injury could make Harris’ path cleaner.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Some recalls, Eskin said, are made after companies’ routine testing catches a pathogen before anyone gets sick, while others involve outbreaks that are already underway and vary widely in size and severity.
    — Dian Zhang, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of severity
Noun
  • Tennessee fans once expressed a grudge toward former coach Lane Kiffin by pelting the Neyland Stadium field with debris, including a mustard bottle and a golf ball, the latter of which struck Kiffin.
    — Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But whether William can continue holding a grudge against Harry with his brother geographically close to him again remains to be seen.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • The negative is that rookie edge Keyron Crawford is out for the year with an ankle injury.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • China continues to rely on Dutch manufacturer ASML for nearly all of its cutting-edge deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines, while some DUV systems encounter US export restrictions.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 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
  • One of the largest online voice acting communities on Reddit, r/VoiceActing, is full of angst and anger, but few solutions.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The 849 feels incrementally smoother and more confidence inspiring than its predecessor when driven in anger, thanks to drivetrain and suspension improvements.
    — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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