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
The Knicks' team defense in the first two rounds was good enough, but not against their bitter rivals in the conference finals.
—
Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
With French soccer already in financial turmoil and facing another potential crisis after talks over a Ligue 1 TV rights deal broke down again in April, even some fans of PSG’s bitter rival Olympique de Marseille (OM) have gotten behind Les Parisiens.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
In addition to setting the stage for a bitter primary in a cycle where several GOP incumbents are facing serious challengers from within, national Republicans fear that Huizenga mounting a Senate run could put his own relatively safe district into play for Democrats.
—Marisa Schultz, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
And that’s a bitter bit of irony — not just for him, either.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 June 2025
With French soccer already in financial turmoil and facing another potential crisis after talks over a Ligue 1 TV rights deal broke down again in April, even some fans of PSG’s bitter rival Olympique de Marseille (OM) have gotten behind Les Parisiens.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
In addition to setting the stage for a bitter primary in a cycle where several GOP incumbents are facing serious challengers from within, national Republicans fear that Huizenga mounting a Senate run could put his own relatively safe district into play for Democrats.
—Marisa Schultz, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2025
And that’s a bitter bit of irony — not just for him, either.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
-
Major tennis governing bodies moved to combat online abuse and published last year a report that attributed nearly half of abusive social media posts to angry gamblers.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
-
Testimony in a Placer County murder trial continued Tuesday with an investigator reciting angry emails over a $1.3 million loan for a fledgling business between a Lake Tahoe-area couple and their former Major League Baseball player son-in-law who is accused of shooting them.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
And sometimes, that transformation, though painful, can deepen our capacity for compassion, connection, and appreciation for the precious gift of life itself.—
Charell G. Coleman,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
For millions of Americans, the road to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is slow and painful, sought only when symptoms become unmistakable.—
Louise Jacobsen Fisher,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
As always, Danan’s voice is hysterically funny, her characters’ exhibiting a wry and biting sense of humor.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
19 May 2025
-
Fey’s writing usually has a reputation of being more on the biting or sardonic side, but The Four Seasons trades out the eye rolls for loving looks (mostly).—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Kilar’s bold moves and harsh comeuppance beg the question: In an age of uncertainty, should Hollywood look to innovative but potentially disruptive outsiders or elevate from within?—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2025
-
Instead of internalising every harsh comment, try reframing it as information about their inner world rather than a reflection of your worth.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
The October air was cold, the grass brown, but Emily’s face was hot and her breath fast.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
-
Marc: The beginning — when the titular character is crying, and then immediately switches from sobbing into the camera to being this cold and calculating person.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
8 June 2025
Adjective
-
Wear it over a tank top on chilly nights or pair it with jeans for a sophisticated yet casual look.—
Shea Simmons,
People.com,
11 June 2025
-
The impromptu show went on until about 4 a.m. Afterward, a bulk of guests exited the venue — as some lined up to enter — and piled up on the windy, slightly chilly street awaiting their taxis.—
Emily Burns,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
For that reason, the show would have always been the curator’s natural point of entry even without this year’s mournful context.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
12 June 2025
-
For May 1966’s expansive Pet Sounds, Wilson and lyricist Tony Asher created a song cycle documenting a passage from youthful innocence to mournful adulthood that the composer contrasted with delicately sophisticated yet openhearted orchestrations.—
Barry Walters,
Billboard,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
There are some cool moments here, but the overall effect is unpleasant.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
-
People did not bathe much in those days and by spreading herbs that released pleasant aromas when walked upon, unpleasant odors could be disguised.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share