In a bitter argument or conflict, people argue very angrily or fight very fiercely.
...the scene of bitter fighting during the Second World War.
...a bitter attack on the Government's failure to support manufacturing.
On the eve of the poll, campaigning was bitter.
Synonyms: grievous, hard, severe, distressing More Synonyms of bitter
bitterlyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
Any such thing would be bitterly opposed by most of the world's democracies.
...a bitterly fought football match.
Synonyms: grievously, harshly, cruelly, savagely More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: greatly, terribly, sorely, awfully [informal] More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: sourly, sharply, acidly, tartly More Synonyms of bitter
bitternessuncountable noun
The rift within the organization reflects the growing bitterness of the dispute. [+ of]
Synonyms: sourness, acidity, sharpness, tartness More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: intense cold, bite, chill, sting More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: trauma, tragedy, grief, misery More Synonyms of bitter
2. adjective
If someone is bitter after a disappointing experience or after being treated unfairly, they continue to feel angry about it.
She is said to be very bitter about the way she was sacked.
His long life was marked by bitter personal and political memories.
Synonyms: resentful, hurt, wounded, angry More Synonyms of bitter
bitterlyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
'And he sure didn't help us,' Grant said bitterly.
...the party bureaucrats who bitterly resented their loss of power.
Synonyms: grievously, harshly, cruelly, savagely More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: greatly, terribly, sorely, awfully [informal] More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: sourly, sharply, acidly, tartly More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: resentfully, sourly, sorely, tartly More Synonyms of bitter
bitternessuncountable noun
I still feel bitterness and anger towards the person who knocked me down.
Synonyms: sourness, acidity, sharpness, tartness More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: intense cold, bite, chill, sting More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: resentment, hurt, anger, hostility More Synonyms of bitter
3. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A bitter experience makes you feel very disappointed. You can also use bitter to emphasize feelings of disappointment.
I think the decision was a bitter blow from which he never quite recovered.
A great deal of bitter experience had taught him how to lose gracefully.
The statement was greeted with bitter disappointment by many of the other delegates.
Synonyms: great, awful, unpleasant, sore More Synonyms of bitter
bitterlyadverb [ADVERB adjective, ADVERB with verb]
I was bitterly disappointed to have lost yet another race so near the finish.
Synonyms: grievously, harshly, cruelly, savagely More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: greatly, terribly, sorely, awfully [informal] More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: sourly, sharply, acidly, tartly More Synonyms of bitter
4. adjective
Bitter weather, or a bitter wind, is extremely cold.
Outside, a bitter east wind was accompanied by flurries of snow.
...after spending a night in the bitter cold.
Synonyms: freezing, biting, severe, intense More Synonyms of bitter
bitterlyadverb [ADVERB adjective]
It's been bitterly cold here in Moscow.
Synonyms: grievously, harshly, cruelly, savagely More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: greatly, terribly, sorely, awfully [informal] More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: sourly, sharply, acidly, tartly More Synonyms of bitter
Synonyms: intensely, freezing, severely, fiercely More Synonyms of bitter
5. adjective
A bitter taste is sharp, not sweet, and often slightly unpleasant.
The leaves taste rather bitter.
...as the wine ages, losing its bitter harshness, and becoming softer and smoother.
Synonyms: sour, biting, sharp, acid More Synonyms of bitter
6. variable noun
Bitter is a kind of beer that is light brown in colour.
[British]
...a pint of bitter.
7.
See to the bitter end
8. a bitter pill
bitter in British English
(ˈbɪtə)
adjective
1.
having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs
Compare sour (sense 1)
2.
showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment
he was still bitter about the divorce
3.
difficult or unpleasant to accept or admit
a bitter blow
4.
cutting; sarcastic
bitter words
5.
bitingly cold
a bitter night
adverb
6.
very; extremely (esp in the phrase bitter cold)
noun
7.
a thing that is bitter
8. British
beer with a high hop content, with a slightly bitter taste
verb
9.
to make or become bitter
Derived forms
bitterly (ˈbitterly)
adverb
bitterness (ˈbitterness)
noun
Word origin
Old English biter; related to bītan to bite
bitter in American English
(ˈbɪtər)
adjective
1.
designating or having a sharp, often unpleasant taste; acrid, as quinine or peach stones
2.
causing or showing sorrow, discomfort, or pain; grievous
3.
sharp and disagreeable; harsh; severe; piercing
a bitter wind
4.
characterized by strong feelings of hatred, resentment, cynicism, etc.
adverb
5.
in a way that is bitter; bitterly
6.
extremely
it was bitter cold
noun
7.
a bitter quality or thing
take the bitter with the sweet
8. British
bitter, strongly hopped ale
see also bitters
verb transitive, verb intransitive
9.
to make or become bitter
Derived forms
bitterly (ˈbitterly)
adverb
bitterness (ˈbitterness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE biter, akin to bītan, bite
More idioms containing
bitter
do something to the bitter end
a bitter pill to swallow
swallow a bitter pill
Examples of 'bitter' in a sentence
bitter
You are hosting this to the bitter end.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
To hide its bitter taste they began adding their copious gin rations.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
He was right to move on rather than become bitter.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
This causes some regions to be exposed to bitter cold and others to have unusual warmth.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
AN inherited dislike of bitter food may make some people eat too much salt.
The Sun (2016)
It was a relief to have a diagnosis, but knowing there was no cure was a bitter blow.
The Sun (2017)
One can only guess how bitter They are feeling now at Twitter.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A bitter custody battle ensued.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some men might have been bitter about how things turned out, but my father wasn't like that.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was another bitter blow for the star.
The Sun (2012)
Do not boil the sauce again or it may split and taste bitter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some were forgiving while others remained extremely bitter.
Christianity Today (2000)
It makes me feel bitter just thinking about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There were some bitter arguments before we ended it by text message.
The Sun (2016)
They also knew from bitter experience the strength and ability of the enemy in the air.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
Many poisonous things are bitter and not many people like the taste.
The Sun (2011)
They planted them with high hopes of success but mostly they found only bitter disappointment.
Christy Campbell PHYLLOXERA: How Wine was Saved for the World (2004)
This was arguably the key moment in the bitter battle between the drivers.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It has become a bitter squabble that almost certainly points to the end of their relationship.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The bitter cold of winter got to them.
Aidan Hartley THE ZANZIBAR CHEST: A Memoir of Love and War (2003)
Retailers and property landlords have been locked in a bitter dispute about rent payments.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Why does only one side have to swallow the bitter pill of forgive and forget?
The Sun (2014)
The game began with a bitter wind and driving rain.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He said he only got his way after a string of bitter rows.
The Sun (2015)
But it was a bitter blow to lose her.
Jan Fennell FRIENDS FOR LIFE (2003)
Some people behind the scenes are extremely bitter.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She's slightly bitter and she does tend to judge people instantly.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So the taste of bitter sprouts won't be so strong.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The majority of pop musicians are completely unknown, which makes them bitter.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
bitter
British English: bitter /ˈbɪtə/ ADJECTIVE
In a bitter argument, people argue very angrily.
It was a bitter attack on the Government.
American English: bitter
Arabic: مُرّ
Brazilian Portuguese: amargo
Chinese: 激烈的
Croatian: oštar
Czech: hořký
Danish: bitter
Dutch: bitter
European Spanish: duro
Finnish: kitkerä
French: amer
German: bitter
Greek: πικρός
Italian: amaro non dolce
Japanese: にがい
Korean: 쓴
Norwegian: bitter
Polish: gorzki
European Portuguese: amargo
Romanian: înverșunat
Russian: ожесточенный
Latin American Spanish: amargo
Swedish: bitter
Thai: ขม
Turkish: acı tat
Ukrainian: запеклий
Vietnamese: quyết liệt
All related terms of 'bitter'
bitter end
the end of a line, chain , or cable , esp the end secured in the chain locker of a vessel
bitter pill
a distressing experience or result that is hard to accept (often in the expression a bitter pill to swallow )
bitter almond
a variety of almond whose bitter seeds yield hydrocyanic acid upon hydrolysis
bitter aloes
a bitter purgative drug made from the leaves of several species of aloe
bitter apple
→ colocynth
bitter cress
any plant belonging to the genus Cardamine , of the mustard family, having usually pinnate leaves and clusters of white, pink , or purple flowers
bitter-ender
a person who persists in a hopeless cause; one who will not give in
bitter irony
If you talk about the irony of a situation, you mean that it is odd or amusing because it involves a contrast .
Bitter Lakes
two lakes , the Great Bitter Lake and Little Bitter Lake in NE Egypt : part of the Suez Canal
bitter lemon
a non-alcoholic, fizzy drink with a lemon flavour
bitter orange
an orange tree, Citrus aurantium, of tropical and semitropical regions: grown for its bitter fruit, which is used to make marmalade
bitter winter
Winter is the season between autumn and spring when the weather is usually cold.
bitter cassava
a species of cassava ( Manihot esculenta ) whose poisonous roots when processed yield tapioca starch
bitter conflict
Conflict is fighting between countries or groups of people.
bitter flavour
The flavour of a food or drink is its taste .
bitter memories
A memory is something that you remember from the past.
bitter principle
any of various bitter-tasting substances, such as aloin , usually extracted from plants
to the bitter end
If you say that you will continue doing something to the bitter end , especially something difficult or unpleasant, you are emphasizing that you will continue doing it until it is completely finished.
swallow a bitter pill
to accept a difficult or unpleasant fact or situation
the bitter/very end
If you do something to the bitter end or to the very end , you continue to do it for as long as you can, although it may be very unpleasant or dangerous .
bittersweet
If you describe an experience as bittersweet , you mean that it has some happy aspects and some sad ones.
a bitter pill to swallow
a difficult or unpleasant fact or situation that has to be accepted
do something to the bitter end
to continue doing something in a determined way and finish it, even though this becomes increasingly difficult
almond oil
oil obtained from almonds , used in many products, esp skin products
a bitter pill be a bitter pill for sb a bitter pill to swallow
If a person or group has to accept a failure or an unpleasant piece of news , you can say that it was a bitter pill or a bitter pill to swallow .