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⇱ bitterly - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

bitterly

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈbɪtərli/


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
bit•ter /ˈbɪtɚ/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. having a harsh taste;
    not sour, sweet, or salty:bitter herbs.
  2. [before a noun] hard to bear: a bitter sorrow.
  3. [before a noun] causing pain: a bitter chill.
  4. characterized by hostility:bitter enemies.
  5. [before a noun] experienced at great cost: a bitter lesson.

n. [uncountable]
  1. WineBrit. an ale that tastes bitter because it is made with hops:two pints of your best bitter.
bit•ter•ly, adv.: a bitterly cold night.
bit•ter•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
bit•ter  (bit′ər),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est, n., v., adv. 
adj. 
  1. having a harsh, disagreeably acrid taste, like that of aspirin, quinine, wormwood, or aloes.
  2. Physiologyproducing one of the four basic taste sensations;
    not sour, sweet, or salt.
  3. hard to bear;
    grievous;
    distressful:a bitter sorrow.
  4. causing pain;
    piercing;
    stinging:a bitter chill.
  5. characterized by intense antagonism or hostility:bitter hatred.
  6. hard to admit or accept:a bitter lesson.
  7. resentful or cynical:bitter words.

n. 
  1. that which is bitter;
    bitterness:Learn to take the bitter with the sweet.
  2. [Brit.]a very dry ale having a strong taste of hops.

v.t. 
  1. to make bitter:herbs employed to bitter vermouth.

adv. 
  1. extremely;
    very;
    exceedingly:a bitter cold night.
  • bef. 1000; Middle English, Old English biter; cognate with German bitter, Old Norse bitr, Gothic baitrs; akin to bite
bit′ter•ish, adj. 
bit′ter•ly, adv. 
bit′ter•ness, n. 
    1. acrid, biting, distasteful. 3. distressing, poignant, painful. 4. biting, nipping. 5. fierce, cruel, ruthless, relentless. 7. acrimonious, caustic, sardonic, scornful.
'bitterly' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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