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

• overbitterness noun

Etymology

Origin of bitterness

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

Example Sentences

The rest of the band joins in as Ayewa calls for the listener to look up to a world above war, bitterness, and division.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The raw bitterness displayed between the rivals underscores the challenge the companies will have working together.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

It acts as a kind of bass note — amplifying the darker frequencies of cocoa, intensifying its bitterness and pulling it into focus.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2026

She described forgiveness not as saying it was OK, but as releasing the "bitterness so it no longer dominates how you feel".

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Then he said with bitterness: ‘If you like I can sit and read the paper awhile. But I wish you would let me sleep now.’

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Related Words

• anguish
• hostility
• pain
• sarcasm