bitterness

bitterness — noun

1. the sharp, dry flavour you notice in things like black coffee, dark chocolate, o

1.nounB2
Definition

the sharp, dry flavour you notice in things like black coffee, dark chocolate, or some medicines.

Example

A light bitterness lingered after the first sip of tonic water.

bitterness after + first sip

The cook added honey to cut the bitterness of the kale soup.

the bitterness of + food

Common collocations
  • the bitterness of coffee
  • cut the bitterness
  • pleasant bitterness
  • notice bitterness
Synonyms
  • sharpness

    broader and less exact; it can also describe sour or strong flavours

  • acridness

    more formal and stronger, often suggesting an unpleasant burnt or chemical edge

  • bite

    informal; often used for a strong lively taste in food or drink

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

bitterness in + food/drink

the bitterness of + food/drink

Usage Note

Usually uncountable and often used with 'of' when naming the food or drink: the bitterness of coffee, the bitterness of dark chocolate.

Common Mistakes

The orange juice had a strong bitterness.
The orange juice had a strong sour taste.
oranges and lemons are usually described as 'sour', not 'bitter'.

2. long-lasting anger and hurt that stay after unfair treatment.

2.nounB2
Definition

long-lasting anger and hurt that stay after unfair treatment.

Example

Years of court battles left bitterness between the two brothers.

bitterness between + people

Mina spoke with bitterness after losing the shop her parents built.

with bitterness after + loss

Common collocations
  • deep bitterness
  • speak with bitterness
  • bitterness toward someone
  • bitterness over the past
Synonyms
  • resentment

    very close in meaning and common in everyday English

  • rancor

    more formal and stronger, with a colder sense of hostility

  • ill feeling

    milder; often used for bad feeling between two sides

Antonyms
  • goodwill

    a friendly and generous feeling toward others

  • forgiveness

    the decision to let go of hurt instead of holding onto it

Grammar Patterns

bitterness toward + person/group

bitterness over + event

bitterness between + people

Usage Note

Common with 'over', 'toward', or 'between'. It usually describes a feeling that lasts after unfair treatment, betrayal, or a painful loss, not a small irritation that quickly passes.

Common Mistakes

Ken felt bitterness because the train was late.
Ken felt annoyed because the train was late.
'bitterness' is for deeper, lasting resentment, not a small daily problem.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

'Bitterness' is not just anger. It suggests hurt that stays for a long time and slowly affects the way someone speaks, thinks, or treats others. 'Resentment' is very close, but it often focuses more directly on feeling that something was unfair. 'Anger' is broader and can be sudden or short-lived, so it does not always carry the long after-effect that 'bitterness' has. 'Rancor' is more formal and stronger, often used when hostility between people or groups has become fixed. A player may feel anger after one bad call, resentment after being ignored for promotion, and bitterness after years of unfair treatment. A political feud marked by open hatred may be described as rancor.

bitterness ↗resentment ↗anger ↗rancor

Common collocations

Phrases

  • a touch of bitterness
  • a trace of bitterness

Prepositions

  • bitterness in
  • bitterness of

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

Bitterness was formed in English by adding the noun ending '-ness' to 'bitter'. The older word 'bitter' comes from Old English and belongs to a Germanic family that also appears in German and Dutch. The earliest idea was a sharp, biting taste, and English later extended that idea to emotional hurt and resentment.