Meaning & Definition of word "Bitter"
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Bitter
/ˈbɪtər/
noun:
- 1. A bitter substance or taste.
- Example: He preferred his coffee without cream, appreciating its natural bitter.
adjective:
- 1. Having a sharp, pungent taste or smell; not sweet.
- Example: The medicine had a bitter flavor that made it difficult to swallow.
- 2. Characterized by strong animosity; resentful or cynical.
- Example: Her bitter remarks about the competition revealed her jealousy.
- 3. Causing sorrow or pain; painful to accept.
- Example: It was a bitter disappointment to lose the championship game.
Etymology
Middle English: from Old English 'bitter' (cognate with Dutch 'bitter' and German 'bitter').
Common Phrases and Expressions
bitter end:
The final outcome of a difficult situation.
bitter pill to swallow:
A difficult situation or reality that is hard to accept.
bitter sweet:
A situation that has both positive and negative aspects.
Related Words
bitterness:
The quality of being bitter; resentment.
bitterly:
In a way that expresses strong feelings of anger or resentment.
bittersweet:
A mixture of both happy and sad emotions.
Slang Meanings of bitter
Meaning: Feeling angry or frustrated, especially because of unfair treatment.
Example Sentence: He's been so bitter since he got passed over for that promotion.
Meaning: Describing someone who is overly cynical or resentful.
Example Sentence: She became bitter after years of bad relationships.