Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for bitters on Thesaurus.com noun (used with a plural verb ) a liquid, often an alcoholic liquor, in which bitter herbs or roots have steeped, used as a flavoring, especially in mixed drinks, or as a tonic. Pharmacology a liquid, usually alcoholic, impregnated with a bitter medicine, as gentian or quassia, used to increase the appetite or as a tonic. bitter medicinal substances in general, as quinine.Show More
Origin of bitters First recorded in
1705–15; bitter +
-s3 adjective, bit·ter·er, bit·ter·est. having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste, like that of aspirin, quinine, wormwood, or aloes. producing one of the four basic taste sensations; not sour, sweet, or salt. hard to bear; grievous; distressful: a bitter sorrow. causing pain; piercing; stinging: a bitter chill. characterized by intense antagonism or hostility: bitter hatred. hard to admit or accept: a bitter lesson. resentful or cynical: bitter words. Show More
that which is bitter; bitterness: Learn to take the bitter with the sweet. British a very dry ale having a strong taste of hops. Show More
to make bitter: herbs employed to bitter vermouth. Show More
extremely; very; exceedingly: a bitter cold night. Show More
Origin of bitter before 1000; Middle English, Old English biter; cognate with
German bitter, Old Norse bitr, Gothic baitrs; akin to
bite Related forms bit·ter·ish , adjective bit·ter·ly , adverb bit·ter·ness , noun non·bit·ter , adjective o·ver·bit·ter , adjective o·ver·bit·ter·ly , adverb o·ver·bit·ter·ness , noun un·bit·ter , adjective Synonyms for bitter See more synonyms for 1 .
acrid ,
biting ,
distasteful .
3 . distressing,
poignant ,
painful .
4 .
biting ,
nipping .
5 .
fierce ,
cruel ,
ruthless ,
relentless .
7 .
acrimonious ,
caustic ,
sardonic ,
scornful .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for bitters aroma ,
aftertaste ,
annoy ,
disillusion ,
aggravate ,
exasperate ,
irritate ,
disaffect ,
sour ,
exacerbate ,
sweet ,
sting ,
zing ,
zip ,
savor ,
jolt ,
bang ,
bitter ,
kick ,
zest Examples from the Web for bitters Contemporary Examples of bitters He dashes in a few drops of bitters , and then gently crushes the sugar with a muddler.
“Within its 1806 embodiment of the cocktail incarnate—spirit, sweetner, bitters , water—there is traditionalism,” Simonson writes.
"Almost all of the bitters , whiskeys, or absinthes you see in Buenos Aires are illegal," he says.
He adds two dashes of Peychaud's bitters , one shot of Los Tigres de la Ira's Suisse verte, some lemon juice, and an egg white.
He makes me a 20's Sazerac with Jack Daniels, Peychaud's Bitters , simple syrup, and local Tigre de la Ira absinthe.
Historical Examples of bitters This I promise you: you shall taste all of life's sweets and escape all bitters .
His phrase was, 'Your bitters , sir, leave no bad flavor behind them.'
Chalybeates, bitters , and opium, after sufficient evacuation.
Its ingredients were one drop of Bitters and the remainder, poor liquor.
Some said her bitters tasted sweet,And some pronounced her pills delightful.
British Dictionary definitions for bitters bitter-tasting spirits of varying alcoholic content flavoured with plant extracts a similar liquid containing a bitter-tasting substance, used as a tonic to stimulate the appetite or improve digestion Show More
having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs Compare sour (def. 1) showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment he was still bitter about the divorce difficult or unpleasant to accept or admit a bitter blow cutting; sarcastic bitter words bitingly cold a bitter night Show More
very; extremely (esp in the phrase bitter cold ) Show More
a thing that is bitter British beer with a high hop content, with a slightly bitter taste Show More
Derived Forms bitterly , adverb bitterness , noun Word Origin for bitter Old English biter ; related to bītan to bite
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for bitters n. 1713, from bitter . So called for its taste.
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adj. Old English biter "bitter, sharp, cutting; angry, embittered; cruel," from Proto-Germanic *bitras- (cf. Old Saxon bittar , Old Norse bitr , Dutch bitter , Old High German bittar , German bitter , Gothic baitrs "bitter"), from PIE root *bheid- "to split" (cf. Old English bitan "to bite;" see bite (v.)). Evidently the meaning drifted in prehistoric times from "biting, of pungent taste," to "acrid-tasting." Used figuratively in Old English of states of mind and words. Related: Bitterly .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with bitters In addition to the idioms beginning with bitter
bitter end bitter pill to swallow also see:
take the bitter with the sweet Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
