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
-
In our experience we were met with outright hostility for our Christian beliefs.—
BJ,
Denver Post,
3 July 2025 -
But these weaknesses stem largely from underfunding and political hostility – not from any intrinsic flaw in the model.—
Sumit Agarwal,
The Conversation,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Rabies is found in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted primarily through a bite.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
14 July 2025
-
Add in a rotating selection of oysters, raw bar towers, and one of the city’s most fun bites: Siberian caviar and parmesan custard served in a salted waffle cone.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
After a two to eight day incubation period, patients may develop fever, headache, chills, weakness and one or more swollen, painful lymph nodes.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
-
Symptoms of plague in humans typically appear within one to eight days after exposure and may include fever, chills, headache, weakness and muscle pain, health officials say.—
Stephanie Innes,
AZCentral.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
While relapse of multiple myeloma is regarded as inevitable, the timing and severity vary widely.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
-
But in the meantime, relatives could only guess the severity of the injury by observing the facial expressions of Nuggets personnel.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
The viral clip perfectly captures the familiar, comedic drama of pet rivalry, proving once again that internet users can't get enough of the secret lives—and grudges—of our four-legged friends.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
-
Or maybe someone carried a grudge about a business deal or something completely unrelated to any of the many hats Roy wore.—
Dateline NBC,
NBC news,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Periphery, fresh off their 2025 release Periphery V: Djent Is Not a Genre, will bring their signature technical wizardry to the tour, while Honey Revenge, whose debut album Retrograde Heart has been praised for its infectious hooks and alternative edge, will add an exciting contrast to the lineup.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
9 July 2025
-
The tiles are made from non-toxic, BPA-free plastic with smooth, rounded edges.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Though Trump is backing away from Putin in public, he’s never specifically projected anger about the paused weapons for Ukraine.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 July 2025
-
His work showed that emotions like anger, fear, joy, and sadness appear on our faces in the same way across cultures.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
There’s a great tradition in sports of being driven by a fear, or a hatred, of that feeling.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
She’s been feeling so much hatred, so much anger, so much sadness, so much disappointment these last few episodes.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 July 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 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share