WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bit•ter /ˈbɪtɚ/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [uncountable]
bit•ter•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- having a harsh taste;
not sour, sweet, or salty:bitter herbs. - [before a noun] hard to bear: a bitter sorrow.
- [before a noun] causing pain: a bitter chill.
- characterized by hostility:bitter enemies.
- [before a noun] experienced at great cost: a bitter lesson.
n. [uncountable]
- WineBrit. an ale that tastes bitter because it is made with hops:two pints of your best bitter.
bit•ter•ness, n. [uncountable]
bit•ter
(bit′ər),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est, n., v., adv.
adj.
n.
v.t.
adv.
bit′ter•ish, adj.
bit′ter•ly, adv.
bit′ter•ness, n.
adj.
- having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste, like that of aspirin, quinine, wormwood, or aloes.
- Physiologyproducing one of the four basic taste sensations;
not sour, sweet, or salt. - hard to bear;
grievous;
distressful:a bitter sorrow. - causing pain;
piercing;
stinging:a bitter chill. - characterized by intense antagonism or hostility:bitter hatred.
- hard to admit or accept:a bitter lesson.
- resentful or cynical:bitter words.
n.
- that which is bitter;
bitterness:Learn to take the bitter with the sweet. - [Brit.]a very dry ale having a strong taste of hops.
v.t.
- to make bitter:herbs employed to bitter vermouth.
adv.
- extremely;
very;
exceedingly:a bitter cold night.
- bef. 1000; Middle English, Old English biter; cognate with German bitter, Old Norse bitr, Gothic baitrs; akin to bite
bit′ter•ly, adv.
bit′ter•ness, n.
- 1. acrid, biting, distasteful. 3. distressing, poignant, painful. 4. biting, nipping. 5. fierce, cruel, ruthless, relentless. 7. acrimonious, caustic, sardonic, scornful.
'bitterness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
acerbity
- acrimony
- acrimonious
- bittersweet
- envenom
- gall
- jaundice
- rankle
- resentment
- vitriol
- adverse
- asperity
- bitter
- catfight
- embitter
- exacerbate
- exasperation
- glum
- grudge
- malice
- note
- quale
- rancor
- reflect
- venom
- sarcasm
- sharp-tongued