bitter
- 1) adjective, having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs. Compare sour
- 2) adjective, showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment
- 3) adjective, difficult or unpleasant to accept or admit
- 4) adjective, cutting; sarcastic
- 5) adjective, bitingly cold
- 6) adverb, very; extremely (esp in the phrase bitter cold)
- 7) noun, a thing that is bitter
- 8) noun, beer with a high hop content, with a slightly bitter taste
- 9) verb, to make or become bitter ▷ See also bitters
Etymology
Old English biter; related to bītan to bite
Collins English Electronic Dictionary - Digital Edition: 2008 © HarperCollins Publishers 2008
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Synonyms
resentment, hurt, anger, hostility, indignation, animosity, venom, acrimony, pique, rancour, ill feeling, bad blood, ill will, umbrage, vexation, asperity, sour, acidity, sharp, tart, acerbity, vinegary, grievous, hard, severe, distress, fierce, harsh, cruel, savage, ruthless, dire, relentless, poignant, ferocious, galling, unrelenting, merciless, remorseless, gut-wrenching, vexatious, resentful, hurt, wounded, angry, offend, sour, put out, sore, choked, crabbed, acrimonious, aggrieved, sullen, miff (informal), embitter, begrudge, peeve (informal), pique, freezing, biting, severe, intense, raw, fierce, chill, sting, penetrating, arctic, icy, polar, Siberian, glacial, wintry, sour, biting, sharp, acid, harsh, unpleasant, tart, astringent, acrid, vinegary, acidulate, acerbic, resentful, sour, sorely, tart, sullen, test, acrimonious, mordant, irascible, intense, freezing, severe, fierce, icy, biting