bitter

adjective
UK: /ˈbɪtər/
US: /ˈbɪtər/

  1. Having a sharp, unpleasant taste; not sweet.

    1. The coffee was bitter, I couldn't drink it. [ ] [ ]
    2. The medicine has a bitter taste, so take it quickly with water. [ ] [ ]

  2. Expressing or feeling a lot of anger, disappointment, or sadness about something.

    1. He felt bitter about losing the game. [ ] [ ]
    2. She had a bitter experience with her last employer. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

acrid sardonic resentful
bitter noun

  1. A bitter-tasting alcoholic drink flavored with herbs.

    1. He ordered a bitter at the bar. [ ] [ ]
    2. Some people add a dash of bitters to cocktails for extra flavor. [ ] [ ]
bitter transitive-verb

  1. To make someone feel bitter.

    1. Don't let it bitter you; move on. [ ] [ ]
    2. The experience bittered him towards politics and public service. [ ] [ ]
bitter adverb

  1. In a bitter way; with bitterness.

    1. She smiled bitterly at the memory. [ ] [ ]
    2. He complained bitterly about the new policies that impacted his job. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "bitter" in English means: Having a sharp, unpleasant taste; not sweet., Expressing or feeling a lot of anger, disappointment, or sadness about something..

The phonetic transcription of "bitter" is /ˈbɪtər/ in British English and /ˈbɪtər/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "bitter": acrid, sardonic, resentful.

Example usage of "bitter": "The coffee was bitter, I couldn't drink it.". More examples on the page.