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

With emotion can come suspicion, bitterness and rancour.

From BBC

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

From BBC

“Oh,” I said, furtively trying to sniff myself to see if I could detect sweetness or bitterness or berries.

From Literature

The Kurds have not hidden their bitterness towards Washington, under whose leadership the anti-jihadist coalition had positioned bases in Kurdish-controlled areas.

From Barron's

No matter how hard he tried, Jonah couldn’t keep the bitterness out of his voice.

From Literature

Related Words

• anguish
• hostility
• pain
• sarcasm