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
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Recent Examples of bitterness
In the case of Alito and Thomas, there is also a striking note of bitterness.
—
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
Looking back now, however, there is no bitterness attached to that chapter.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
And after spending most of Sunday as the guy the crowd didn’t want to see close the deal, Clark didn’t respond with bitterness.
—
Dan Zaksheske Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Crisp and refreshing, the drink’s grapefruit bitterness was softened by carbonation, giving Mexico’s national cocktail a lively upgrade.
—
Sari Kamin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 June 2026
Add the lime juice just before serving to preserve brightness and prevent bitterness.
—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
How did someone emerge from such darkness without becoming consumed by bitterness?
—
Norman B. Gildin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 June 2026
What occasionally helps Aethermead is Barnes’ palpable bitterness.
—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
That unique bitterness is mocked, but revered, in countless social media videos.
—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Amy Davidson Sorkin,
New Yorker,
30 June 2026
Looking back now, however, there is no bitterness attached to that chapter.
—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
28 June 2026
And after spending most of Sunday as the guy the crowd didn’t want to see close the deal, Clark didn’t respond with bitterness.
—
Dan Zaksheske Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
Crisp and refreshing, the drink’s grapefruit bitterness was softened by carbonation, giving Mexico’s national cocktail a lively upgrade.
—
Sari Kamin,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
17 June 2026
Add the lime juice just before serving to preserve brightness and prevent bitterness.
—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
How did someone emerge from such darkness without becoming consumed by bitterness?
—
Norman B. Gildin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 June 2026
What occasionally helps Aethermead is Barnes’ palpable bitterness.
—
Ethan Beck,
Pitchfork,
9 June 2026
That unique bitterness is mocked, but revered, in countless social media videos.
—
Chris Tye,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
Noun
-
Engelbert has consistently mismanaged the overt physical hostility directed at the league's biggest star.
-
Today, however, some experts suggest that explicit displays of racial hostility have become more visible in public spaces.
Noun
-
At a charge, guests may also book a cute Patina Osaka wagon, packed with chairs, cuddly blankets, bites, and drinks for a bucolic picnic in the park.
-
The reception reportedly offered multiple bars and food stations, which featured bites such as sushi and Italian cuisine.
Noun
-
The room, its walls expensively craquelure'd to resemble fractured eggshells, its pale taffeta curtains billowing in the chill English breeze, is more Hollywood boudoir than office.
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From versatile and lightweight linen jumpsuits to light sweaters that come in handy when there’s an unexpected chill in the air, the following items are essentials that can always be found in our suitcases.
Noun
-
Emergency drain cleaning runs $400 to $1,000 or more, depending on severity.
-
While most wildfires in the past burned slowly across the forest floor, providing benefits to the forest, high-severity fires roar into the tops of the trees, burning 1,000 degrees or hotter, with flames that can reach 200 feet tall.
Noun
-
Colombia eventually outlasted Ghana to survive the first FIFA World Cup knockout round in Kansas City Stadium, also known as Arrowhead Stadium, but those at the watch parties didn’t seem to hold a grudge.
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Within the first 10 minutes of the match on Monday, which was also the anniversary of that game, the Mexican fans reminded the world of their 12-year grudge against the Oranje.
Noun
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The Detroit pizza features the style’s signature crown of crispy cheese around the edges, and a blanket of brick cheese.
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Both the scalloped edges and adorable blue gingham print made this a top pick for me.
Noun
-
Or that Penélope Cruz’s sultry chilliness would jibe with either her male counterparts or Wilde’s diary-of-a-mad-housewife interpretation of a brittle, eager-to-impress woman brimming with creative frustration.
Noun
-
Winters prioritized strategic logic over acknowledging the profound emotional impact on his workforce, fostering fear and anger.
-
Thousands of demonstrators massed across South African cities, venting anger at undocumented foreign nationals.
Cite this Entry
“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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