bitterness

[bit-er-nis]

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.

Other Word Forms

• overbitterness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bitterness¹

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

Example Sentences

Smoking a cigarette in a shaded doorway not far from the church, a 33-year-old civil servant, who gave her name as Aurélie, spoke with undisguised bitterness.

From BBC

What starts as a nostalgic reconnection over drinks between two men who once chased the same dream quickly curdles, as Timothy’s long-simmering resentment boils over, erupting in bitterness and violence.

From Los Angeles Times

She also suggested making an Arnold Palmer by adding black tea for a hint of bitterness and aroma.

From Salon

In the cocktail of their marriage, he adds the bitterness and she adds the spice, qualities that can be either overbearing or harmonious.

From Los Angeles Times

That, for me, is the way to a future without bitterness.

From BBC

Related Words

• anguish 
• hostility 
• pain 
• sarcasm