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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterness
Noun
-
When expectant fathers face hostility or subtle exclusion at work, the consequences can extend beyond their own careers.—
Kim Elsesser,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025 -
Questions were raised over Putin’s motives in calling the brief halt to hostilities, which came just after the Trump administration threatened to abandon peace efforts without tangible signs of progress.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System relied on contractors reviewing thousands of ER records and categorizing them by cause, including motor vehicle accidents, adverse drug events, firearms, drownings, poisoning, dog bites.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
21 Apr. 2025
-
More: Climate risk will take trillion-dollar bite out of America's real estate, report finds What are the origins of Earth Day?—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Find out if these appetizers will survive the chill or thaw to a mushy mess.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The infectious disease can include symptoms like fever, chills and muscle aches, which can also be indicative of COVID.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
First, because our common narrative framework depends on the past, many people still consider warming through a speculative lens, failing to recognize the severity, and urgency, of superstorms and sea-level rise.—
Heather Hansman,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Common cold symptoms: Vitamin C can help reduce the duration of the common cold and reduce the severity of its symptoms.—
Sara Hoffman, PharmD,
Verywell Health,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
An armed man accused of walking into a Walgreens location in California and shooting an employee to death this week allegedly had a grudge against corporate pharmacies, police said.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Theater owners gathered inside the Colosseum Theater at Caesar’s Palace on Monday didn’t seem to hold any grudges, and gave a warm welcome to the exec.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Roberts has played several positions across the defensive front but has been primarily an edge defender.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Six female celebs — including pop songstress Katy Perry, journalist Gayle King and Jeff Bezos’s fiancée, author Lauren Sánchez — are slated to blast off Monday morning in a Blue Origin rocket headed for the edge of space.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Aggression For some individuals, the turmoil following a breakup can give rise to an inexplicable burst of anger.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Damn, again, my woulda, shoulda anger steams beneath a somewhat placid exterior.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Love has triumphed over hatred, light over darkness and truth over falsehood.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr.,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
While highlighting the vicious cycle of ethnic hatred, Gavin strives for impartiality.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Bitterness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterness. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share