1
as in angry
having or showing deep-seated resentment
a bitter attitude about always having to work on Saturday she's still bitter about how her family treated her so unfairly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
discovering that he had been cut from the crew team was a bitter disappointment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in biting
causing intense discomfort to one's skin
a bitter wind was stinging the faces of the skiers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in harsh
difficult to endure
a bitter lesson about money and friendship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in cold
having a low or subnormal temperature
a bitter February day for this part of the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in chilly
uncomfortably cool
a bitter, rainy day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in mournful
expressing or suggesting mourning
a bitter cry of grief
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
had to face the bitter truth about their marriage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bitter
But Chiefs fandom is and will always be rooted in these stories — parents suffering through bitter cold and even more bitter results but passing along their fandom and traditions to their kids anyway.
—
Sam McDowell 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026
What Christians universally believe in, however, is the power of prayer, turning to it not only for moral clarity but when feeling helpless, hurt, bitter or vengeful.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Editors noted diverse flavor profiles, from fruity and candy-like to bitter and sharp, across the different brands.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
After days of bitter cold, temperatures in Oxford reached 70 degrees Friday, but chunks of ice still littered the ground in shaded areas.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Sam McDowell 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2026
What Christians universally believe in, however, is the power of prayer, turning to it not only for moral clarity but when feeling helpless, hurt, bitter or vengeful.
—Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Editors noted diverse flavor profiles, from fruity and candy-like to bitter and sharp, across the different brands.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
After days of bitter cold, temperatures in Oxford reached 70 degrees Friday, but chunks of ice still littered the ground in shaded areas.
—Arkansas Online, 7 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, members of Congress are likely to face some angry, dissatisfied voters — with the year’s first major primary day fast approaching on March 3.—
Marissa Martinez,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But the attempt at humor didn’t satisfy some angry fans who believe Mets President David Stearns swindled Getz in a trade that essentially was a salary dump.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Knee-assist devices and exoskeletons often use simple bearings placed near the knee, which can create painful misalignment because a real knee hinges but also shifts, rolls, and slides.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
-
After 35 rounds of radiation and painful robotic surgery on his tongue, Coulier can finally begin to recover from his cancer battle.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Chill Factor Perhaps the most biting statistic of the season so far is the temperature.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Morbidly Jewish finds Raanan at his most biting, acerbic, angry, Jewish, and, as always…loud.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The energy output is designed to remain stable down to –50 degrees Celsius, supporting reliable operation in some of the harshest climates on Earth, reports InsideEVs.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Rapinchuk recommends only using non-toxic products when cleaning your refrigerator and avoiding anything with harsh chemicals, such as bleach and ammonia.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Snow and cold conditions have become increasingly unreliable.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Built for extreme cold Corvus One for Cold Chain uses industrial-grade barcode scanners with precise control over focus and exposure, enabling reliable label capture even when barcodes are frosted, damaged, or low contrast.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For early spring when the weather still gets chilly, use a set of thicker sheet sets to add the perfect amount of warmth, then pair it with a set of cooling sheets once hotter temperatures arrive later in the season.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Otherwise, Thursday looks blustery and chilly with a mostly cloudy sky.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom shakes his head, seeming more mournful than angry.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Over time, this buildup can affect the dishwasher's performance, lead to unpleasant odors, and leave dishes less clean.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The water in Griffin was deemed safe to use the same day as the spill, later in the evening, but some residents believed the water still had an unpleasant smell.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
