# bitterness

/ˈbɪtɝnəs/ (US) · /bˈɪtənəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bitterness
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. taste

noun · CEFR B1

a sharp and sometimes unpleasant taste, like that of coffee without sugar or lemon peel.

For teachers: the quality of having an acrid or sharp taste, often associated with alkaloids or certain plant compounds.

- The bitterness of the dark chocolate was too strong for the young child.
- The chef added a touch of honey to the sauce to balance the natural bitterness of the roasted radicchio.

### 2. resentment

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling of anger and unhappiness because you think you have been treated unfairly.

For teachers: a state of deep-seated resentment, acrimony, or cynicism resulting from perceived injustice or disappointment.

- He felt a lot of bitterness after he lost his job for no reason.
- Years of legal disputes had left both siblings with a sense of bitterness that made reconciliation almost impossible.

### 3. harshness of weather

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a way to describe very cold and painful weather.

For teachers: the quality of being intensely or painfully cold; environmental harshness.

- The bitterness of the winter wind made it hard to stay outside.
- The explorers were unprepared for the sheer bitterness of the Arctic night, which froze their supplies within hours.

## Examples

- I do not like the bitterness of black coffee.
- She tried to hide the bitterness in her voice when he mentioned his new job.
- The bitterness of the defeat lingered in the team's locker room long after the final whistle had blown.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.