BITTERLY Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

bitterly

adverb

Definition of bitterly

as in sorrowfully

with feelings of bitterness or grief cried bitterly after her grandmother died

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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 bitterly The race is widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's nearly unbroken 17-year rule, which had left Israelis bitterly divided on a host of issues even before the deadliest attack in the country's history. — Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026 The race was widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s nearly unbroken 17-year rule, which had left Israelis bitterly divided on a host of issues even before the deadliest attack in the country’s history. — Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 27 Oct. 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who marked his 100th day in office on Tuesday, has broken that code of silence and reignited a debate that bitterly divided the country. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026 The two men have been bitterly at odds ever since Comey’s firing. — Eric Tucker, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 The race is bitterly divided on the issue of a transcontinental railroad. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 Conservationists fought bitterly over whether trapping every bird should be considered rescue or surrender. — David Ginsburg, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026 And the fourth was about how Bush’s advisers fought bitterly and were split on economic policy. — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Nothing comes of it, of course, until months later, when Corinne sees the news that Kiberlain is taking to the Paris stage in a production of the very same play, and bitterly confronts her outside the theater. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterly

Adverb

Tarun would tease her, and my mother would look sorrowfully toward Kavitha, as if the two of them now shared some womanly burden.

— Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025

Definition of sorrowfully

Adverb

Political and legal debates date back to ancient Rome and have been a key part of our nation, beginning with Lincoln-Douglas, yet experts say, sadly, are no longer perceived as necessary.

— Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
There is of course another way to hear ABBA songs sung live onstage, though sadly without Greek island backdrops or background singers wearing floppy swim fins.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadly

Adverb

Fra Fee, as Joe, has a slightly harder task, since his role is almost entirely reactive; while Ethan bangs on mournfully about, effectively, the dangers of shagging your brother’s wife — well, who would have thought?

— Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026
Mayfield watched mournfully in his kitchen while the rest of the family sat in the living room with the big screen next to a Christmas tree.

— John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026

Definition of mournfully

Adverb

With nearly 60 murders per day, South Africa has one of the world's highest crime rates, and several of Cape Town's townships are among the areas hardest hit by violent crime.

— Julie Bourdin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
Eisenkot believes Netanyahu has purposefully made that process harder.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

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bitter

bitterly

bitterness

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“Bitterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterly. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bitterly

adverb

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