bitterness

American  

[bit-er-nis] / ˈbɪt ər nɪs /

noun

1. a harsh, acrid taste that is one of the four basic taste sensations; a taste that is not sour, sweet, or salty.

   The beer’s initial flavor profile is a faint bitterness, with a lingering, slightly cloying sweetness.

2. a feeling of pain or distress.

   The bitter herbs at a Passover Seder are meant to remind us of the bitterness of slavery.

3. a feeling of antagonism, hostility, or resentfulness.

   There was no shortage of people expressing frustration and bitterness about the slow pace of the relief efforts.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overbitterness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of bitterness

bitter ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Example Sentences

But even before the tournament begins, he cannot hide his bitterness.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

Bram, his husband, has a demanding job at a museum in Rotterdam and Arnold’s bitterness has grown wearying.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Written by Mr. Carney and Peter McDonald, who also contributes a funny supporting turn as one of Rick’s band mates, it stumbles into a bog of bitterness, quarreling and unseemly behavior.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026

The melon’s bitterness, the plant’s resilience, mix with the sun’s relentlessness.

From Salon • May 9, 2026

The cellist, denied first chair in the Cleveland Orchestra, left the city in a cloud of bitterness.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Related Words

• anguish
• hostility
• pain
• sarcasm