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View synonyms for

bitter

[ bit-er ]

adjective

bitterer, bitterest.
  1. having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste, like that of aspirin, quinine, wormwood, or aloes.

    Synonyms: , ,

  2. producing one of the four basic taste sensations; not sour, sweet, or salt.
  3. hard to bear; grievous; distressful:

    a bitter sorrow.

    Synonyms: ,

  4. causing pain; piercing; stinging:

    a bitter chill.

    Synonyms: ,

  5. characterized by intense antagonism or hostility:

    bitter hatred.

    Synonyms: , , ,

  6. hard to admit or accept:

    a bitter lesson.

  7. resentful or cynical:

    bitter words.

    Synonyms: , , , ,



noun

  1. that which is bitter; bitterness:

    Learn to take the bitter with the sweet.

  2. British. a very dry ale having a strong taste of hops.

verb (used with object)

  1. to make bitter:

    herbs employed to bitter vermouth.

adverb

  1. a bitter cold night.

bitter

/ ˈɪə /

adjective

  1. having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs Compare sour
  2. showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment

    he was still bitter about the divorce

  3. difficult or unpleasant to accept or admit

    a bitter blow

  4. cutting; sarcastic

    bitter words

  5. bitingly cold

    a bitter night

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. very; extremely (esp in the phrase bitter cold )
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a thing that is bitter
  2. beer with a high hop content, with a slightly bitter taste
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to make or become bitter
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٳٱԱ, noun
  • ˈٳٱ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ٱ· adjective
  • ·ٱ· adverb
  • ·ٱ·Ա noun
  • ԴDz··ٱ adjective
  • ···ٱ adjective
  • over··ٱ· adverb
  • ܲ··ٱ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bitter1

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English biter; cognate with German bitter, Old Norse bitr, Gothic baitrs; akin to bite
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bitter1

Old English biter ; related to īٲ to bite
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Idioms and Phrases

  • take the bitter with the sweet
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

More than two decades of bitter conflict was over.

From

This will be a bitter loss for the Conservatives, who only months ago had a clear path to victory and will now need to figure out a way forward after a series of electoral defeats.

From

This will be a bitter loss for the Conservatives, who only months ago had a clear path to victory and will now need to figure out way forward after a series of electoral defeats.

From

"Brexit was a bitter divorce, but now I see you are dating again," I was told privately.

From

China will let scientists from six countries, including the US, examine the rocks it collected from the Moon - a scientific collaboration that comes as the two countries remain locked in a bitter trade war.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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