bitter

[bit-er]

adjective

bitterer, bitterest 

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

Other Word Forms

• bitterness noun
• bitterly adverb
• bitterish adjective
• nonbitter adjective
• overbitter adjective
• overbitterly adverb
• unbitter 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

The rocks were then placed in a woven basket with water and acorn flour that had been rinsed and re-rinsed over several days, to remove bitter tannins.

From Los Angeles Times

For 18 years, in greatness and in grief, through sweet dreams and bitter despair, he did exactly that.

From Los Angeles Times

In Sudan, Yousuf said smugglers left his group for a month in the desert enduring searing hot days and bitter cold nights surviving on meagre rations of rice and contaminated water.

From BBC

At some point we have to stick to someone and see it through to the bitter end.

From BBC

Some commentators and social media users suggested the suspect may have been a groyper, framing the killing as part of a bitter internal feud within the far-right.

From Salon

Related Words

• acrimonious 
• biting 
• caustic 
• fierce 
• hateful 
• intense 
• rancorous 
• resentful 
• severe 
• sour 
• stinging www.thesaurus.com
• vitriolic