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
Rogen’s character Joe is a bitter former musician who teaches at a middling conservatory.
—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
26 June 2026
The entire ordeal has left him feeling bitter about FIFA and secondary resale markets.
—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
26 June 2026
This limited-time sparkling beverage is made with grapefruit, cranberry, and orange juices from concentrate, plus some aromatic bitter flavors and a touch of cane sugar to give it a mocktail feel that's better than soda and more interesting than simple fruit juice.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova went from friends to teammates to foes to bitter rivals in a span of two tennis careers.
—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
26 June 2026
The entire ordeal has left him feeling bitter about FIFA and secondary resale markets.
—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
26 June 2026
This limited-time sparkling beverage is made with grapefruit, cranberry, and orange juices from concentrate, plus some aromatic bitter flavors and a touch of cane sugar to give it a mocktail feel that's better than soda and more interesting than simple fruit juice.
—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
25 June 2026
Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova went from friends to teammates to foes to bitter rivals in a span of two tennis careers.
—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bitter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitter
Adjective
-
The Commission ultimately left it at 400 feet, prompting an intense reaction from the angry crowd.
-
Some of the women who were angry contacted the SFMOMA not simply to share feedback, but to try to ensure Bahr could never work with the institution again.
Adjective
-
And that says something painful about what my country has become, and my place in it.
-
For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the absence of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s most painful consequences.
Adjective
-
So Google isn’t trying to release more biting mosquitoes into neighborhoods.
-
Netflix’s big comedy bet might be the Dan Levy–Rachel Sennott co-creation Big Mistakes; the biting, farcical series about adult siblings who get caught up in the drug business plays like Weeds crossed with The Other Two.
Adjective
-
White settlers and frontier pioneers built vast, fenceless cattle stations, battling harsh environments and disease, embracing a hard-living culture that exists to this day.
-
Dish Soap Using harsh chemicals on the outside of your toilet bowl and fixtures is not recommended, according to Meagher.
Adjective
-
Next to him, the waters of Lincoln’s Sinking Spring still ran cold.
-
If time doesn’t allow for spa treatments, a morning swim in the indoor pool accompanied by a sauna and cold plunge in one of their two thermal suites might suffice.
Adjective
-
Flemings, like Peterson a one-and-done player in college, had 14 points on chilly 4-of-16 shooting.
-
Then the movie ended, and someone flicked the lights, and people wiped their faces and checked their apps and the door opened for a chilly evening breeze.
Adjective
-
The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
-
The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
Adjective
-
Alas, Ligeti proved to be an extraordinarily difficult collaborator, his manic perfectionism colliding with practical reality and leading to unpleasant scenes.
-
The consequences are unpleasant, but can also turn dangerous very quickly as body temperature rises.
Cite this Entry
“Bitter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitter. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
