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

But both he and Balda know how much medicine the audience can handle in their fluff before the bitterness overwhelms the sweet.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

Such a cloying tone from the queen of bitterness!

From Slate • May 6, 2026

The discord began at a time when bitterness about Spain’s colonial legacy had largely receded, and many Mexicans celebrate their mixed European and Indigenous heritage.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

To call him a good loser is simply untrue—though from what we can tell the bitterness was always directed inward.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

“It feels good to be kosher again,” I told him, not without some bitterness in my voice.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

Related Words

• anguish
• hostility
• pain
• sarcasm