bitter

Adjective

• causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold
  • bitter cold
    
  • a biting wind
    

• causing a sharp and acrid taste experience
  • quinine is bitter
    

• proceeding from or exhibiting great hostility or animosity
  • a bitter struggle
    
  • bitter enemies
    

• expressive of severe grief or regret
  • shed bitter tears
    

• harsh or corrosive in tone
  • an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose
    
  • a barrage of acid comments
    
  • her acrid remarks make her many enemies
    
  • bitter words
    
  • blistering criticism
    
  • caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics
    
  • a sulfurous denunciation
    
  • a vitriolic critique
    

• very difficult to accept or bear
  • the bitter truth
    
  • a bitter sorrow
    

• marked by strong resentment or cynicism
  • an acrimonious dispute
    
  • bitter about the divorce
    

Adverb

• extremely and sharply
  • it was bitterly cold
    
  • bitter cold
    

Noun

• the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste

• the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouth

• English term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft)

Verb

• make bitter

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  biting , acrimonious , piercingly , bitterly , bitingly , bitterness