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

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

Both men ran for president in 2016, and the two developed a bitter rivalry.

From BBC

In 2008, after Obama had beaten Clinton in a bitter race for the party’s nomination, he was desperate for her unifying support.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s an inescapable backhanded label, causing a bitter division between the haves and the have-nots or in this case, the tall and short.

From Salon

If you are not wearing a mask or you lower it for a moment, you will immediately inhale the bitter air.

From BBC

Related Words

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