bittersweet

[ adjective bit-er-sweet, bit-er-sweet; noun bit-er-sweet ]

adjective

1. both bitter and sweet to the taste:

   bittersweet chocolate.

2. both pleasant and painful or regretful:

   a bittersweet memory.

noun

1. Also called woody nightshade. a climbing or trailing plant, Solanum dulcamara, of the nightshade family, having small, violet, star-shaped flowers with a protruding yellow center and scarlet berries.
2. Also called climbing bittersweet. any climbing plant of the genus Celastrus, bearing orange capsules opening to expose red-coated seeds, especially C. scandens.
3. pleasure mingled with pain or regret:

   the bittersweet of parting.

bittersweet

/ ˈbɪtəˌswiːt /

noun

1. any of several North American woody climbing plants of the genus Celastrus , esp C. scandens , having orange capsules that open to expose scarlet-coated seeds: family Celastraceae
2. another name for woody nightshade

adjective

1. tasting of or being a mixture of bitterness and sweetness
2. pleasant but tinged with sadness

Other Words From

• bit·ter·sweet·ly adverb
• bit·ter·sweet·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bittersweet¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; bitter + sweet

Example Sentences

“I completely empathize with people who think this would be a bittersweet thing,” Lazarus said.

From Los Angeles Times

But the outcome turned out to be bittersweet.

From BBC

As bittersweet as it was to be reduced to a playoff spectator, it became easier once Kershaw accepted in early October that he wouldn’t be able to play.

From Los Angeles Times

Whether those are necessary ingredients in the bittersweet romance an ambitious woman cultivates with herself is debatable.

From Salon

“It’s bittersweet — it gives us a chance to save our family’s finances, but you’re seeing the labor of love destroyed.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• agonizing
• arduous
• awful
• difficult
• dire
• distasteful
• distressing
• excruciating
• hard
• harrowing
• heart-wrenching
• hurtful
• severe
• tedious
• terrible
• troublesome
• uncomfortable
• unpleasant

More About Bittersweet

What does bittersweet mean?

Bittersweet describes something that tastes both harsh or acrid and sugary, such as a chocolate with less sugar, intended for baking into something sweet, like a cake.

Bittersweet also describes something that is both pleasant and regretful, such as graduating from high school. You’re excited about what comes after high school, but you’ll miss seeing your friends everyday. Graduation is a bittersweet moment.

Bittersweet is another name for Solanum dulcamara, or woody nightshade, a creeping, vine-like plant that can be poisonous in large quantities.

Bittersweet could also refer to any climbing plant of the genus Celastrus.

Example: I take just a little sugar in my coffee because I like a bittersweet taste.

Where does bittersweet come from?

The first records of the term bittersweet come from the 1300s. It is a Middle English term that combines the words bitter and sweet. Bitter comes from the Gothic baitrs, and sweet comes from the Latin suāvis, meaning “pleasant.” 

The literal and figurative uses of bittersweet are used almost equally. Several popular fruits are bittersweet, including cranberries, sour cherries, blackberries, Granny Smith apples, and blueberries. (We like ours dipped in bittersweet chocolate!)

The figurative bittersweet often describes an event or a memory of an event that is both happy and sad. Often when something comes to an end, such as a show, production, career, or anything that has a definite beginning and end, you might feel that the ending is bittersweet because it is sad that it is ending but happy because it had a successful run.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to bittersweet?

• bittersweetly (adverb)
• bittersweetness (noun)

What are some synonyms for bittersweet?

• woody nightshade
• climbing bittersweet

What are some words that share a root or word element with bittersweet? 

• bitter
• sweet

What are some words that often get used in discussing bittersweet?

• death
• feeling
• happy
• plant
• poison

How is bittersweet used in real life?

Bittersweet is most often used to describe a feeling or flavor.

With #The100 Season 6 finale just days away, I have some bittersweet news to share: Season 7 will be our last. We are eternally grateful to WB & CW for always allowing us to tell our story the way we want to & to wrap the show on our terms. What an incredible ride this has been!

— Jason Rothenberg (@JRothenbergTV) August 4, 2019

Mac’s artistry still had so many places to go. Circles is beautiful and bittersweet. RIP king

— Bas (@Bas) January 17, 2020

Just left home for the summer #bittersweet 😪

— Nash Grier (@Nashgrier) June 12, 2014

Try using bittersweet!

Is bittersweet used correctly in the following sentence?

Leaving for camp is always bittersweet because I know I’ll miss my bed, but I also love nature.