BITTERNESS Synonyms: 152 Similar and Opposite Words

bitterness

noun

Definition of bitterness next

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will he still harbored an implacable bitterness against the company that had fired him

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in bite

a harsh or sharp quality the bitterness of the coffee suggested that it had been reheated

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as in chill

an uncomfortable degree of coolness there's a bitterness in the air, so let's build a fire in the fireplace

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as in severity

biting sharpness of feeling or expression complained with great bitterness about the ill treatment he had always received

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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 For example, maror, or bitter herbs, represent the bitterness of slavery. —

Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 1 Apr. 2026 The rest of the band joins in as Ayewa calls for the listener to look up to a world above war, bitterness, and division. —

Steve Donofrio, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026 Curiously, there is less bitterness among farmworkers and advocates than there is sadness. —

Marcos Breton, Sacbee.com, 24 Mar. 2026 There's a lot of bitterness for the lack of humanitarian intervention in January, Banai said. —

Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 23 Mar. 2026 Each sip ends with some pleasant heat on the back end, a nice, warming finish that lingers for a few minutes, along with some tannic oak that does not go overboard into bitterness. —

Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2026 Seeing a former flame with someone else brings out a jealous bitterness that eats at Lou, which is hard not to relate to as a millennial audience member with a heart. —

Glenn Garner, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2026 In 2019, Spanish geneticists mapped the genomes of bitter and sweet almonds and determined that a single gene was responsible for almond bitterness. —

Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026 For Ryan’s mother, Julia (Taylor), Paul’s surprise visit unleashes a wary bitterness she’s long kept contained. —

Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness

Noun

Iran war has entered its fifth week with hostilities escalating across the region.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
After all, a bit more than a decade later, hostilities would explode anew in the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, during which Nasser shut the canal again.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026