bitter

bit·ter

B0286800 (bĭt′ər)adj. bit·ter·er, bit·ter·est 1. Having or being a taste that is sharp, acrid, and unpleasant.2. Causing a sharply unpleasant, painful, or stinging sensation; harsh: enveloped in bitter cold; a bitter wind.3. Difficult or distasteful to accept, admit, or bear: the bitter truth; bitter sorrow.4. Proceeding from or exhibiting strong animosity: a bitter struggle; bitter foes.5. Resulting from or expressive of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment: cried bitter tears.6. Marked by resentment or cynicism: "He was already a bitter elderly man with a gray face" (John Dos Passos).adv. In an intense or harsh way; bitterly: a bitter cold night.tr.v. bit·tered, bit·ter·ing, bit·ters To make bitter.n.1. That which is bitter: "all words ... / Failing to give the bitter of the sweet" (Tennyson).2. bitters A bitter, usually alcoholic liquid made with herbs or roots and used in cocktails or as a tonic.3. Chiefly British A sharp-tasting beer made with hops.

[Middle English, from Old English; see bheid- in Indo-European roots.]

bit′ter·ly adv.bit′ter·ness n.Synonyms: bitter, acerbic, acrid
These adjectives mean unpleasantly sharp or pungent in taste or smell: a bitter cough syrup; a cheap, acerbic wine; acrid smoke.

bitter

(ˈbɪtə) adj1. having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs. Compare sour¹2. 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. advvery; extremely (esp in the phrase bitter cold)n6. a thing that is bitter7. (Brewing) Brit beer with a high hop content, with a slightly bitter tastevbto make or become bitter[Old English biter; related to bītan to bite] ˈbitterly adv ˈbitterness n

bit•ter

(ˈbɪt ər)

adj. , -ter•er, -ter•est, adj. 1. having a harsh, acrid taste. 2. producing one of the four basic taste sensations; not sour, sweet, or salt. 3. hard to bear: a bitter sorrow. 4. causing pain: a bitter chill. 5. characterized by or showing intense hostility: bitter enemies. 6. experienced at great cost: a bitter lesson. 7. resentful or cynical: bitter words. n. 8. that which is bitter; bitterness. 9. Brit. an ale bitter with hops. v.t. 10. to make bitter. adv. 11. extremely; very: a bitter cold night. [before 1000; Middle English, Old English biter; c. Old High German bittar, Old Norse bitr; akin to bite] bit′ter•ly, adv. bit′ter•ness, n.

bitter

Past participle: bittered
Gerund: bittering

Imperative
bitter
bitter

Present
I bitter
you bitter
he/she/it bitters
we bitter
you bitter
they bitter

Preterite
I bittered
you bittered
he/she/it bittered
we bittered
you bittered
they bittered

Present Continuous
I am bittering
you are bittering
he/she/it is bittering
we are bittering
you are bittering
they are bittering

Present Perfect
I have bittered
you have bittered
he/she/it has bittered
we have bittered
you have bittered
they have bittered

Past Continuous
I was bittering
you were bittering
he/she/it was bittering
we were bittering
you were bittering
they were bittering

Past Perfect
I had bittered
you had bittered
he/she/it had bittered
we had bittered
you had bittered
they had bittered

Future
I will bitter
you will bitter
he/she/it will bitter
we will bitter
you will bitter
they will bitter

Future Perfect
I will have bittered
you will have bittered
he/she/it will have bittered
we will have bittered
you will have bittered
they will have bittered

Future Continuous
I will be bittering
you will be bittering
he/she/it will be bittering
we will be bittering
you will be bittering
they will be bittering

Present Perfect Continuous
I have been bittering
you have been bittering
he/she/it has been bittering
we have been bittering
you have been bittering
they have been bittering

Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been bittering
you will have been bittering
he/she/it will have been bittering
we will have been bittering
you will have been bittering
they will have been bittering

Past Perfect Continuous
I had been bittering
you had been bittering
he/she/it had been bittering
we had been bittering
you had been bittering
they had been bittering

Conditional
I would bitter
you would bitter
he/she/it would bitter
we would bitter
you would bitter
they would bitter

Past Conditional
I would have bittered
you would have bittered
he/she/it would have bittered
we would have bittered
you would have bittered
they would have bittered

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	bitter - English term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft)ale - a general name for beer made with a top fermenting yeast; in some of the United States an ale is (by law) a brew of more than 4% alcohol by volumeBritain, Great Britain, U.K., UK, United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; `Great Britain' is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
	2.	bitter - the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouthbitternessgustatory perception, gustatory sensation, taste, taste perception, taste sensation - the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus; "the candy left him with a bad taste"; "the melon had a delicious taste"
	3.	bitter - the property of having a harsh unpleasant tastebitternesstaste property - a property appreciated via the sense of tasteacerbity - a sharp bitternessacridness, acridity - extreme bitterness; "the acridity of alkali"
Verb	1.	bitter - make bitterchange taste - alter the flavor of
Adj.	1.	bitter - marked by strong resentment or cynicism; "an acrimonious dispute"; "bitter about the divorce"acrimoniousresentful - full of or marked by resentment or indignant ill will; "resentful at the way he was treated"; "a sullen resentful attitude"
	2.	bitter - very difficult to accept or bear; "the bitter truth"; "a bitter sorrow"intolerable, unbearable, unendurable - incapable of being put up with; "an intolerable degree of sentimentality"
	3.	bitter - harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation"; "a vitriolic critique"acid, blistering, caustic, vitriolic, sulfurous, sulphurous, acrid, acerb, acerbic, virulentunpleasant - disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings ; "an unpleasant personality"; "unpleasant repercussions"; "unpleasant odors"
	4.	bitter - expressive of severe grief or regret; "shed bitter tears"sorrowful - experiencing or marked by or expressing sorrow especially that associated with irreparable loss; "sorrowful widows"; "a sorrowful tale of death and despair"; "sorrowful news"; "even in laughter the heart is sorrowful"- Proverbs 14:13
	5.	bitter - proceeding from or exhibiting great hostility or animosity; "a bitter struggle"; "bitter enemies"hostile - characterized by enmity or ill will; "a hostile nation"; "a hostile remark"; "hostile actions"
	6.	bitter - causing a sharp and acrid taste experience;"quinine is bitter"tasty - pleasing to the sense of taste; "a tasty morsel"
	7.	bitter - causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold; "bitter cold"; "a biting wind"bitingpainful - causing physical or psychological pain; "worked with painful slowness"
Adv.	1.	bitter - extremely and sharply; "it was bitterly cold"; "bitter cold"bitingly, piercingly, bitterly

bitter

adjective1. grievous, hard, severe, distressing, fierce, harsh, cruel, savage, ruthless, dire, relentless, poignant, ferocious, galling, unrelenting, merciless, remorseless, gut-wrenching, vexatious, hard-hearted the scene of bitter fighting
grievous pleasant, fortunate2. resentful, hurt, wounded, angry, offended, sour, put out, sore, choked, crabbed, acrimonious, aggrieved, sullen, miffed (informal), embittered, begrudging, peeved (informal), piqued, rancorous She is said to be very bitter about the way she was sacked.
resentful happy, friendly, sweet, gentle, pleasant, mild, grateful, mellow, thankful, appreciative3. great, awful, unpleasant, sore The statement was greeted with bitter disappointment.4. freezing, biting, severe, intense, raw, fierce, chill, stinging, penetrating, arctic, icy, polar, Siberian, glacial, wintry a night in the bitter cold
freezing gentle, pleasant, mild, balmy5. sour, biting, sharp, acid, harsh, unpleasant, tart, astringent, acrid, unsweetened, vinegary, acidulated, acerb The leaves taste rather bitter.
sour sweet, pleasant, mild, bland, mellow, sugary

bitter

adjective1. Having a noticeably sharp pungent taste or smell:acerbic, acrid, harsh, sour.2. Causing sharp, often prolonged discomfort:brutal, hard, harsh, rough, severe.3. Difficult to accept:distasteful, indigestible, painful, unpalatable.4. Bitingly hostile:acrimonious, embittered, hard, rancorous, resentful, virulent.

Translations

严寒的怀恨的有苦味的激烈的痛苦的

bitter

(ˈbitə) adjective1. having a sharp, acid taste like lemons etc, and sometimes unpleasant. a bitter orange.有苦味的2. full of pain or sorrow. She learned from bitter experience; bitter disappointment.痛苦的3. hostile. full of hatred or opposition: bitter enemies.怀恨的4. very cold. a bitter wind.严寒的ˈbitterness noun苦味ˈbitterly adverbbitterly disappointed; bitterly cold. 非常地，痛苦地，严酷地，非常寒冷地 bittergourd noun a long, fleshy, bitter-tasting fruit usually used as a vegetable. 苦瓜bitumen (ˈbitjumin) noun a black, sticky substance obtained from petroleum. 沥青biˈtuminous (-ˈtjuːmi-) adjective沥青的

bitter

→ 激烈的zhCN

bitter

till/until the bitter end

1. Until the point of completion or conclusion, even though it may be difficult, unpleasant, or take a long time to reach. Possibly of nautical origin, referring to the "bitts" on a dock to which a ship's ropes are moored. I'm not really enjoying this book, but I always make a point of sticking with a novel till the bitter end.2. To the final or most critical extremity, such as death or total defeat. We might not have a chance of winning today, but we have to give it our all until the bitter end! My father stayed beside my dying mother's bed till the bitter end.See also: bitter, end, till, until

a bitter pill

An unwanted or unpleasant situation that someone is forced to accept. A shortening of the phrase, "a bitter pill to swallow." When Brett's parents stopped giving him money to pay his bills and told him to get a job, it was a bitter pill for him to swallow. Getting a poor performance review was a bitter pill, but it made me a better worker.See also: bitter, pill

be bitter and twisted

To be miserable, typically because of past traumas or problems. My sister is bitter and twisted after years in a bad relationship. Oh, she's been bitter and twisted ever since she found out she didn't make the team.See also: and, bitter, twist

a bitter pill to swallow

An unwanted or unpleasant situation that someone is forced to accept. A pronoun for the person in such a situation can be mentioned between "pill" and "to," as in "a bitter pill for her to swallow." When Brett's parents stopped giving him money to pay his bills and told him to get a job, it was a bitter pill for him to swallow. Getting a poor performance review was a bitter pill to swallow, but it made me a better worker.See also: bitter, pill, swallow

the bitter fruits

The negative consequences of something. The economy is in shambles, and unemployment and underemployment are the bitter fruits.See also: bitter, fruit

to the bitter end

1. Until the point of completion or conclusion, even though it will likely be difficult, unpleasant, or take a long time to reach. Possibly of nautical origin, referring to the "bitts" on a dock to which a ship's ropes are moored. I'm not really enjoying this book, but I always make a point of sticking with a novel to the bitter end.2. To the final or most critical extremity, such as death or total defeat. We might not have a chance of winning today, but we have to give it our all to the bitter end! My father stayed beside my dying mother's bed to the bitter end.See also: bitter, end

the bitter end

1. The point of completion or conclusion, even though it may be difficult, unpleasant, or take a long time to reach. Possibly of nautical origin, referring to the "bitts" on a dock to which a ship's ropes are moored. I'm not really enjoying this book, but I always make a point of sticking with a novel till the bitter end.2. The final or most critical extremity, such as death or total defeat. We might not have a chance of winning today, but we have to give it our all until the bitter end! My father stayed beside my dying mother's bed till the bitter end.See also: bitter, end

take the bitter with the sweet

To accept both the negative and positive aspects of something. The phrase is typically used in an acknowledgement that nothing is perfect. When it comes to this job, you have to take the bitter with the sweet. It's hard, but it's worth it. Anyone thinking marriage is bliss 24/7 is deluded, but you learn to take the bitter with the sweet, and if you married the right person, there's more sweet than bitter overall.See also: bitter, sweet, take

the weed of crime bears bitter fruit

Illegal, immoral, or illicit schemes will only every yield bad outcomes. While sentencing the three CEOs following their conviction, the judge said he wanted to make it clear to the whole country that the weed of crime bears bitter fruits.See also: bear, bitter, crime, fruit, of, weed

bitter pill to swallow

Fig. an unpleasant fact that has to be accepted. (Does not involve pills or swallowing.) It was a bitter pill for her brother to swallow when she married his enemy. We found his deception a bitter pill to swallow.See also: bitter, pill, swallow

Take the bitter with the sweet.

Prov. Accept the bad things as well as the good things that happen. (Implies that the bad and good things you are talking about are very serious or important.) If you intend to get married, you must be prepared to take the bitter with the sweet.See also: bitter, sweet, take

to the bitter end

and till the bitter endFig. to the very end. (Originally nautical. This originally had nothing to do with bitterness.) I'll stay till the bitter end. It took me a long time to get through school, but I worked hard at it all the way to the bitter end.See also: bitter, end

bitter end

The last extremity; also, death or ruin. For example, I'm supporting the union's demands to the bitter end, or Even though they fight a lot, I'm sure Mom and Dad will stay together to the bitter end . The source of this term may have been nautical, a bitter being a turn of a cable around posts, or bitts, on a ship's deck, and the bitter end meaning "the part of the cable that stays inboard." Thus, when a rope is paid out to the bitter end, no more remains. [Mid-1800s] See also: bitter, end

bitter pill to swallow

An unpleasant fact, disappointment, or humiliation that is difficult to endure. For example, Failing the bar exam was a bitter pill to swallow, but he plans to try again next year . [Late 1500s] See also: bitter, pill, swallow

take the bitter with the sweet

Accept adversity as well as good fortune, as in Although he got the job, he hadn't counted on having to work with Matthew; he'll just have to take the bitter with the sweet . This idiom uses bitter for "bad" and sweet for "good," a usage dating from the late 1300s. It was first recorded in John Heywood's 1546 proverb collection. For a synonym, see take the rough with the smooth. See also: bitter, sweet, take

to the bitter end

If you do something to the bitter end, you continue doing it in a determined way until you finish it, even though it becomes increasingly difficult. Despite another crushing defeat, he is determined to see the job through to the bitter end. They must carry on their battle to the bitter end, not only to get a fair deal for themselves, but for the sake of all British business. Note: Sailors used to refer to the end of a rope or chain that was securely tied as `the bitter end'. Bitts were posts on the ship's deck and ropes would be tied to these to secure the ship in a harbour. See also: bitter, end

a bitter pill to swallow

a bitter pill

COMMON If a fact or a situation is a bitter pill to swallow or a bitter pill, it is difficult or unpleasant to accept. Their chief executive said the failure to win the contract was a bitter pill to swallow. I'm not going to tell you this is not a bitter pill for the armed forces, because clearly it is. Note: You can say that someone swallows a bitter pill if they have to accept something difficult or unpleasant. Our people have swallowed a bitter pill in accepting this peace agreement.See also: bitter, pill, swallow

to the bitter end

persevering to the end, whatever the outcome.See also: bitter, end

a bitter pill (to swallow)

an unpleasant or painful necessity (to accept). 1996 European The move, while not entirely unexpected, has been a bitter pill to swallow. See also: bitter, pill

a bitter ˈpill (for somebody) (to swallow)

a thing that is very difficult or unpleasant to accept: He was a proud man, so having to ask for money must have been a bitter pill to swallow.See also: bitter, pill

to the bitter ˈend

right to the end, no matter how long it takes; until everything possible has been done: Now that we have begun this project, we must see it through to the bitter end. ♢ We are determined to fight to the bitter end.See also: bitter, end

bitter end, (fight) to the

The last extremity, the conclusion of a tough battle or other difficult situation. The term comes from seamanship, where “the bitter end” is that part of the chain or anchor cable that is secured inside the vessel and is seldom used. It is so described in Captain Smith’s Seaman’s Grammar of 1627: “A bitter is but the turne of a Cable about the bitts, and veare it out by little and little. And the Bitter’s end is that part of the Cable doth stay within board.” It was sometimes spelled better; Daniel Defoe, in Robinson Crusoe (1719), described a terrible storm, saying, “We rode with two anchors ahead, and the cables veered out to the better end.” A much earlier version is found in Chaucer’s The Squire’s Tale: “They demen gladly to the badder ende” (translated by the Reverend Walter W. Skeat as “worse end”).See also: bitter

bitter pill (to swallow)

Something that is painful or hard to accept, as in “Being fired from one’s first job is a bitter pill to swallow.” The term bitter pill has been used figuratively for an unpleasant situation or fact since the sixteenth century. Horace Walpole had the precise locution: “It was a bitter pill for the King to swallow” (Last Journals, 1779). On the other hand, the more philosophical view that bad-tasting medicine may be beneficial has existed alongside the cliché. “Bitter pills may have blessed effects” was recorded in James Kelly’s Scottish Proverbs (1721), and Thomas Fuller put it as “wholesome effects” in Gnomologia (1732).See also: bitter, pill

take the bitter with the sweet

One must accept the bad along with the good. “For how might ever sweetness have be knowe to him that never tasted bitternesse?” asked Chaucer in Troilus and Criseyde. Poets have connected bitter and sweet ever since, and the concept also made its way into several collections of proverbs. See also the synonymous take the rough with the smooth.See also: bitter, sweet, take

the weed of crime bears bitter fruit

No good will come from criminal schemes. The Shadow was a very popular radio detective series that began in the early 1930s. Its hero, playboy Lamont Cranston, had “the power to cloud men's minds,” a form of hypnosis by which he appeared off to the side of where people thought he stood (contrary to popular belief, the Shadow did not make himself invisible). After the credits at the end of every episode, the Shadow intoned, “The weed of crime bears bitter fruit. Crime does not pay! The Shadow knows,” and then utter a sardonic laugh. Another famous Shadow-ism was “Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men?—The Shadow knows!”See also: bear, bitter, crime, fruit, of, weed

bitter

bit·ter

bitter

bit•ter

bitter

bitter

bitter

bitter

bitter

bitter

till/until the bitter end

a bitter pill

be bitter and twisted

a bitter pill to swallow

the bitter fruits

to the bitter end

the bitter end

take the bitter with the sweet

the weed of crime bears bitter fruit

bitter pill to swallow

Take the bitter with the sweet.

to the bitter end

bitter end

bitter pill to swallow

take the bitter with the sweet

to the bitter end

a bitter pill to swallow

a bitter pill

to the bitter end

a bitter pill (to swallow)

a bitter ˈpill (for somebody) (to swallow)

to the bitter ˈend

bitter end, (fight) to the

bitter pill (to swallow)

take the bitter with the sweet

the weed of crime bears bitter fruit

bitter

bitter

bitter

bitter

bitter

Synonyms for bitter

adj grievous

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adj resentful

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adj great

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adj freezing

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adj sour

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Synonyms for bitter

adj having a noticeably sharp pungent taste or smell

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adj causing sharp, often prolonged discomfort

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adj difficult to accept

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adj bitingly hostile

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Synonyms for bitter

noun English term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft)

Related Words

noun the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouth

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noun the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste

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verb make bitter

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adj marked by strong resentment or cynicism

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adj very difficult to accept or bear