bittersweet
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.feeling both happy and sad at the same time.
adj.evoking or characterized by a mixture of pleasure and pain, or regret and happiness.
Simple“Moving to a new city was a bittersweet moment because I was excited but sad to leave my friends.”
In context“The graduation ceremony was a bittersweet occasion, marking the successful completion of their studies while signaling the inevitable dispersal of a close-knit group.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a taste that is both bitter and sweet.
adj.simultaneously possessing a sharp, acrid flavor and a sugary or pleasant one.
Simple“I love the bittersweet taste of dark chocolate with sea salt.”
In context“The chef balanced the bittersweet notes of the radicchio with a honey-based dressing to create a more harmonious flavor profile.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a type of climbing plant with small berries.
n.any of several vines, particularly Solanum dulcamara or the American genus Celastrus, known for their colorful berries.
Simple“The garden fence was covered in bittersweet with its bright orange berries.”
In context“The florist incorporated sprigs of American bittersweet into the autumnal centerpiece, highlighting the vibrant red seeds revealed by the split orange husks.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun when referring to the species generally.
Teacher's tipIn North America, this usually refers to the woody vine Celastrus, whereas in Europe it often refers to the toxic nightshade.
Synonymsnightshade - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a color that is between orange and red.
n.a specific hue within the reddish-orange or pinkish-orange spectrum.
Simple“The sunset turned the clouds a beautiful shade of bittersweet.”
In context“The interior designer suggested a bittersweet accent wall to provide warmth to the otherwise neutral living room.”
“Kimberly Akimbo deals breezily with serious subjects and is all the more bittersweet for it.”
“One of the main varieties that gives Somerset cider its bittersweet taste is Dabinett.”
From Middle English bitterswete, biterswete, equivalent to bitter + sweet. Cognate with Saterland Frisian bitterswäit (“bittersweet”), West Frisian bittersoet (“bittersweet”), Dutch bitterzoet (“bittersweet”), German bittersüß (“bittersweet”), Danish bittersød (“bittersweet”), Swedish bittersöt (“bittersweet”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.