1
as in hostility
a deep-seated ill will
he still harbored an implacable bitterness against the company that had fired him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bite
a harsh or sharp quality
the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chill
an uncomfortable degree of coolness
there's a bitterness in the air, so let's build a fire in the fireplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in severity
biting sharpness of feeling or expression
complained with great bitterness about the ill treatment he had always received
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 bitterness
Tahini’s bitterness balances the intense sweetness of dates, the traditional Ramadan break-the-fast food; stuffing dates with tahini is a Ramadan treat.
—
Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
The bitterness is concentrated in the green shoot itself.
—Caitlin Beale, Health, 11 Feb. 2026
In Paris, Boubalé also plays around with its spritz for the winter by veering away from the drink’s bitterness and citrus-forward profile.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
But we were left with an odd bitterness and powdery feeling in our mouths after eating the testing pieces.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
McDonald demonstrated through his refusal to be defined by bitterness, and his commitment to dignity and forgiveness.
—Alice Gainer, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The compounds that cause the bitterness in the plant stimulate the production and flow of bile from the liver and gallbladder.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026
And even the smallest nibble wallops with a potent vegetal bitterness.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But history shows that the Olympics often leave behind a legacy of debt, white elephants, and bitterness.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
The bitterness is concentrated in the green shoot itself.
—Caitlin Beale, Health, 11 Feb. 2026
In Paris, Boubalé also plays around with its spritz for the winter by veering away from the drink’s bitterness and citrus-forward profile.
—Chadner Navarro, Vogue, 10 Feb. 2026
But we were left with an odd bitterness and powdery feeling in our mouths after eating the testing pieces.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Feb. 2026
McDonald demonstrated through his refusal to be defined by bitterness, and his commitment to dignity and forgiveness.
—Alice Gainer, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
The compounds that cause the bitterness in the plant stimulate the production and flow of bile from the liver and gallbladder.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026
And even the smallest nibble wallops with a potent vegetal bitterness.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But history shows that the Olympics often leave behind a legacy of debt, white elephants, and bitterness.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
Noun
-
Instead, an arcane academic skirmish has devolved into open hostilities.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Fox News Digital reviewed internal Signal chat messages from Seattle-area rapid response groups showing that the rejection of whistles triggered open hostility.—
Asra Q. Nomani,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Stir together the remoulade as the crab cakes cook, so as little time as possible stands between you and your first bite.—
Karla Walsh,
Southern Living,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Infected cats can carry the fungus in their claws or skin lesions, and scratches or bites can transmit the infection to humans.—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
An extreme cold watch is issued when dangerously cold air temperatures or wind chill values are possible.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Paragons of chill, the equivalent of three buddies drinking a few beers, too tired to get up off their lily pads/sofas.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Depending on the severity, menopause symptoms can affect a woman’s quality of life.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The severity of the weather was aggravated by heat in Chicago, where highs were reaching over 90 degrees.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This one-year penance business reeks of score-settling, petty grudges and arm-twisting.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Some can hold grudges for years.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Arm's chip designs power most of the world's smartphones and are increasingly used in AI data centers and edge computing devices.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
-
On Thursday afternoon, OpenAI released a new cutting-edge coding model that the company said assisted in its own creation.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The manipulations also affected how much sadness and anger participants reported feeling while scrolling.—
Simon Makin,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Iran at home faces still-simmering anger over its wide-ranging suppression of all dissent in the Islamic Republic.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Emily Brontë’s novel is a book that stains — its emotions seep through generations, its hatreds metastasize, its love transforms into something unholy and permanent.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
