bitter

[ bit-er ]

adjective

, bit·ter·er, bit·ter·est.

1. having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste, like that of aspirin, quinine, wormwood, or aloes.

   Synonyms: distasteful, unpalatable, acrid

2. producing one of the four basic taste sensations; not sour, sweet, or salt.
3. hard to bear; grievous; distressful:

   a bitter sorrow.

   Synonyms: painful, poignant

4. causing pain; piercing; stinging:

   a bitter chill.

   Synonyms: nipping, biting

5. characterized by intense antagonism or hostility:

   bitter hatred.

   Synonyms: relentless, ruthless, cruel, fierce

6. hard to admit or accept:

   a bitter lesson.

7. resentful or cynical:

   bitter words.

   Synonyms: scornful, sardonic, biting, caustic, acrimonious

noun

1. that which is bitter; bitterness:

   Learn to take the bitter with the sweet.

2. British. a very dry ale having a strong taste of hops.

verb (used with object)

1. to make bitter:

   herbs employed to bitter vermouth.

adverb

1. extremely; very; exceedingly:

   a bitter cold night.

bitter

/ ˈbɪtə /

adjective

1. having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs Compare sour
2. showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment

   he was still bitter about the divorce

3. difficult or unpleasant to accept or admit

   a bitter blow

4. cutting; sarcastic

   bitter words

5. bitingly cold

   a bitter night

adverb

1. very; extremely (esp in the phrase bitter cold )

noun

1. a thing that is bitter
2. beer with a high hop content, with a slightly bitter taste

verb

1. to make or become bitter

Derived Forms

• ˈbitterness, noun
• ˈbitterly, adverb

Other Words From

• bit·ter·ish adjective
• bit·ter·ly adverb
• bit·ter·ness noun
• non·bit·ter adjective
• o·ver·bit·ter adjective
• over·bit·ter·ly adverb
• un·bit·ter adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bitter¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English biter; cognate with German bitter, Old Norse bitr, Gothic baitrs; akin to bite

Word History and Origins

Origin of bitter¹

Old English biter ; related to bītan to bite

Idioms and Phrases

• take the bitter with the sweet

Example Sentences

She ordered her usual half a bitter and settled in by a large wagon wheel wall decoration, chatting to friends while she waited for him to appear.

From BBC

Washington said that at the time he felt he “had to” drink and was bitter about the loss, though he holds no ill will toward the since-disgraced Spacey for taking home the Oscar.

From Los Angeles Times

But there are “bitter arguments” over crucial details, such as whether the Indian Plate continues to slide beneath Tibet or is diving downward, Klemperer says.

From Science Magazine

Both men remain bitter and vengeful about that, which is undoubtedly the main reason Trump believes that Gaetz will be a perfect Attorney General.

From Salon

This change in weather fortunes comes about thanks to a blocking area of high pressure building across Greenland with cold Arctic air emptying out across the UK and bitter northerly winds developing.

From BBC

Related Words

• acrimonious
• biting
• caustic
• fierce
• hateful
• intense
• rancorous
• resentful
• severe
• sour
• stinging
• vitriolic