Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

bitter pill

American  

noun

  1. a distressing experience or result that is hard to accept (often in the expressiona bitter pill to swallow ).

    Being passed over for promotion was a bitter pill to swallow.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Leonard played 65 games and averaged a career-best 27.9 points, however Wednesday’s loss was a bitter pill to swallow.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

“This will be a bitter pill to swallow,” SGH Macro’s Duy said.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Paramount would have a bitter pill to swallow if regulators actually blocked the transaction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Liam Rosenior said Chelsea's failure to stay calm under pressure was a "bitter pill" as they blew a two-goal advantage in their 2-2 draw with Leeds on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

It was a bitter pill for me to swallow, too.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "bitter pill" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com