bitter en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- [ˈbɪ.ɾɚ] (General-American)
- [ˈbɪt.ʰə] (Received-Pronunciation)
- [ˈbɪʔ.ə] (Received-Pronunciation, also, colloquial)
- /ˈbɪ.tɚ/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˈbɪt.ə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰeyd-der. Proto-Indo-European *bʰidrós Proto-Germanic *bitraz Proto-West Germanic *bitr Old English biter Middle English bittre English bitter From Middle English bitter, bittre, from Old English bitter, biter (“bitter”), from Proto-West Germanic *bitr, from Proto-Germanic *bitraz (“bitter”), equivalent to bite + -er (agent noun suffix) used attributively. Cognate with Saterland Frisian, West Frisian, Low German, Danish, Dutch, German, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish bitter, Icelandic bitur (all meaning “bitter”).
Meanings
-
Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).
The coffee tasted bitter.
A few types of molecules get sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set off their own neural cascades.
2018 May 16, Adam Rogers, “The Fundamental Nihilism of Yanny vs. Laurel”, in Wired:Long after his cigar burnt bitter, he sat with eyes fixed on the blaze. When the flames at last began to flicker and subside, his lids fluttered, then drooped; but he had lost all reckoning of time when he opened them again to find Miss Erroll in furs and ball-gown kneeling on the hearth[…].
1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, chapter III, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC:
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Harsh, piercing, acerbic or stinging.
It was at the end of February, […] when the world was cold, and a bitter wind howled down the moors […].
1999, Neil Gaiman, Stardust, p.31 (Perennial paperback edition)
-
Hateful or hostile.
Tottenham have not won in the Premier League at Emirates Stadium for 12 years, with Arsenal losing just one of their last 29 home league games against their bitter rivals.
2022 October 1, Phil McNulty, “Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham: Gunners show identity & direction in outstanding derby win”, in BBC Sport:They're bitter enemies.
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Colossians 3:19:He inveighed against the folly of making oneself liable for the debts of others; vented many bitter execrations against the brother; and concluded with wishing something could be done for the unfortunate family.
1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
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Cynical and resentful.
I've been bitter ever since that defeat.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| bitterest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| bitterer | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most bitter | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more bitter | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
sweet · optimistic (antonym(s) of “cynical and resentful”)
Deriveds
bitterweed · bittersome · Great Bitter Lake · bitter nightshade) · bitter tea · bitter cryptandra · bitterroot · bitterful · bitter-cress · bitter gooseberry · bitter dock · bitter-leaf · [pl=s · bitterless · take the bitter with the sweet · bitter albizia · bitter bean · bitter poisonpie · bitter hickory · bitter bossie · bitterwood · bitter dogbane · swallow a bitter pill · bitter melon · bitter willow · bitter kambro · bitter wintercress · bitter hymenoxys · bitter ganna · bitter cherry · bitter herbs · bitterly · bitter apple · bitter pit · bitter ragwort · bitter snakewood · bittercress · debitter · bitter panicgrass · bitter waxcap · bitter paramosage · unbitter · bitter quandong · bitter-sweet · bittersharp · bitter cucumber · bitter buchu · bitterbush · bitter drumstick tree · bitter tomato · bitter karree · bitternut · bitter squash · bitter chocolate · bitter sow-thistle · bitter oysterling · bitter orange · bitter bracket · bitter pecan · bitter vetch · bitter fleabane · mild and bitter · sugarcoat a bitter pill · bitterorange · bitter African daisy · overbitter · bitter scalewort · embitter · debitterize · bitter sorrel · bitter thistle · bitter pea · bitterling · bitter gourd · bitter aloes · bitter pill · bitter spar · bitter milkwort · bittersweet · bitter myrobalan · bitter nutmeg · bitterness · bitter vine · bitter grape · bitter pill to swallow · bitter coco · bitter leaf · bitter funnel · bitter karoo · bitterish · bitter bolete · bitter almond · bitter sneezeweed · bitter cold · nonbitter · bitter webcap · bitterwort · bittermelon · bitter bark · bitter cornsalad · bitter lettuce · imbitter · bitter rot · bitter forest grape · bitterbrush
Descendants
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
coffeelike · quiniferous · hoppy · bitterish
Relateds
Synonyms
jaded (cynical and resentful) · acrid · sharp · acerb · caustic · acerbic · bitter · bittersome
Translations (295)
be го́ркі (having an acrid taste) · lv sīvs (having an acrid taste) · cmn 苦澀 /苦涩 (having an acrid taste) · bn তিতা (having an acrid taste) · km ជូរ (having an acrid taste) · as তিতা (having an acrid taste) · bg циничен (cynical and resentful) · sa तिक्त (having an acrid taste) · hy դառն (having an acrid taste) · hil mapait (having an acrid taste) · ang āfor (having an acrid taste) · kk ашты (having an acrid taste) · fr amer (having an acrid taste) · sga aicher (harsh, piercing or stinging) · got 𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍂𐍃 (having an acrid taste) · de feindlich (hateful or hostile) · lld ante (having an acrid taste) · hi ईर्ष्यालु (hateful or hostile) · km ចត់ (having an acrid taste) · dz ཁག་དྲགས (having an acrid taste) · cmn 懷敵意 /怀敌意 (hateful or hostile) · cmn 可惡 /可恶 (hateful or hostile) · to kava (having an acrid taste) · kaw pahit (having an acrid taste) · ja 荒々しい (harsh, piercing or stinging) · el πικρός (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ca amarg (having an acrid taste) · no bitter (hateful or hostile) · sc rànchiu (having an acrid taste) · tk ajy (having an acrid taste) · az mürr (having an acrid taste) · oj wiisagi- (having an acrid taste) · fr rude (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ota آجی (cynical and resentful) · ru го́рький (having an acrid taste) · de hart (harsh, piercing or stinging) · dlm amuor (having an acrid taste) · bho तीत (having an acrid taste) · pt amargurado (cynical and resentful) · sl grenak (having an acrid taste) · ms pahit (having an acrid taste) · tr acılı (having an acrid taste) · es amargo (having an acrid taste) · sh ògōrčen (cynical and resentful) · no bitter (having an acrid taste) · ltg ryugts (having an acrid taste) · fr hostile (hateful or hostile) · hu keserű (having an acrid taste) · ka მწარე (having an acrid taste) · bg горчив (having an acrid taste) · grc πικρός (having an acrid taste) · da bidende (harsh, piercing or stinging) · cs zatrpklý (cynical and resentful) · jv pait (having an acrid taste) · hsb hórki (having an acrid taste) · mn гашуун (having an acrid taste) · fur amar (having an acrid taste) · de verbittert (cynical and resentful) · tr keskin (having an acrid taste) · la acerbus (harsh, piercing or stinging) · fi kitkerä (having an acrid taste) · it amaro (having an acrid taste) · he מרירה (cynical and resentful) · cs hořký (having an acrid taste) · cu горькъ (having an acrid taste) · zza tun (diq) (having an acrid taste) · agj መራራ (having an acrid taste) · kix khōushāk (having an acrid taste) · msk pait (having an acrid taste) · hy ամենաչար (hateful or hostile) · hy կծու (having an acrid taste) · ar أَلِيم (harsh, piercing or stinging) · tl mapait (having an acrid taste) · th ขม (having an acrid taste) · hy ծակող (harsh, piercing or stinging) · sh грк (having an acrid taste) · fj qona (having an acrid taste) · es amargoso (having an acrid taste) · mr कट्टर (hateful or hostile) · eo amara (having an acrid taste) · mba mapait (having an acrid taste) · hy անողոք (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ru озло́бленный (cynical and resentful) · ccc pshawa (having an acrid taste) · dsb górki (having an acrid taste) · fi terävä (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ca hostil (hateful or hostile) · it gelido (harsh, piercing or stinging) · de harsch (harsh, piercing or stinging) · izh karkia (having an acrid taste) · fi katkera (cynical and resentful) · sl zagrenjen (cynical and resentful) · ar مَقِيت (hateful or hostile) · qu k'allku (having an acrid taste) · ro amar (having an acrid taste) · yue 苦 (having an acrid taste) · uz achchiq (having an acrid taste) · ga searbh (having an acrid taste) · tr şiddetli (having an acrid taste) · lmo amar (having an acrid taste) · nl bitter (hateful or hostile) · or କଟୁ (having an acrid taste) · is beiskur (having an acrid taste) · de bitter (having an acrid taste) · ast amargu (having an acrid taste) · pl gorzki (having an acrid taste) · ceb pait (having an acrid taste) · cmn 苦 (harsh, piercing or stinging) · sh ljȗt (hateful or hostile) · fi karvas (having an acrid taste) · sv bitter (cynical and resentful) · tr acı (having an acrid taste) · ru зло́бный (hateful or hostile) · ko 쓰다 (having an acrid taste) · es amargado (cynical and resentful) · hy չար (hateful or hostile) · hi कटु (having an acrid taste) · wal camuwa (having an acrid taste) · bcl mapait (having an acrid taste) · kix khōushāk (hateful or hostile) · hsb jěrki (having an acrid taste) · ru злой (hateful or hostile) · sh gorak (having an acrid taste) · es amaro (desus.) (having an acrid taste) · got 𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍄𐍂𐍃 (cynical and resentful) · pl zgorzkniały (cynical and resentful) · de erbittert (hateful or hostile) · oc amar (having an acrid taste) · cmn 可恨 (hateful or hostile) · ee veve (having an acrid taste) · te చేదు (hateful or hostile) · it aspro (harsh, piercing or stinging) · bug pai (having an acrid taste) · hi उग्र (harsh, piercing or stinging) · de hässlich (hateful or hostile) · ja 苦い (having an acrid taste) · la amarus (cynical and resentful) · sh grk (having an acrid taste) · ja 敵対 (hateful or hostile) · gl amargo (having an acrid taste) · nl verbitterd (cynical and resentful) · or ତିକ୍ତ (having an acrid taste) · sh opor (having an acrid taste) · la amārus (having an acrid taste) · mr कडू (having an acrid taste) · ckb تاڵ (having an acrid taste) · mt morr (having an acrid taste) · akl mapait (having an acrid taste) · gun ai (having an acrid taste) · he מַר (having an acrid taste) · de bitter (harsh, piercing or stinging) · hy սուր (harsh, piercing or stinging) · fa تلخ (having an acrid taste) · fi katkera (hateful or hostile) · hu megkeseredett (cynical and resentful) · he מריר (cynical and resentful) · cmn 苦 (having an acrid taste) · ia amar (having an acrid taste) · tr sert (having an acrid taste) · pt amargo (having an acrid taste) · scn amaru (having an acrid taste) · de herb (having an acrid taste) · sq hidhur (having an acrid taste) · lv rūgts (having an acrid taste) · nrf amé (having an acrid taste) · br c'hwerv (having an acrid taste) · el πικρός (cynical and resentful) · da forbitret (cynical and resentful) · ota آجی (having an acrid taste) · no bitter (cynical and resentful) · yi ביטער (having an acrid taste) · bg злобен (hateful or hostile) · hy դաժան (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ru мучи́тельный (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ivv makpad (having an acrid taste) · sh горак (having an acrid taste) · da bitter (hateful or hostile) · mi pūraurau (hateful or hostile) · lo ຂົມ (having an acrid taste) · ar مَمْقُوت (hateful or hostile) · pdt betta (having an acrid taste) · bg враждебен (hateful or hostile) · de arg (harsh, piercing or stinging) · nl bitter (having an acrid taste) · ga domlasta (having an acrid taste) · uk гірки́й (having an acrid taste) · gld гочиси (having an acrid taste) · fr dur (harsh, piercing or stinging) · he מרה (having an acrid taste) · cy chwerw (having an acrid taste) · cmn 嚴酷 /严酷 (harsh, piercing or stinging) · kk ащы (having an acrid taste) · sh о̀го̄рчен (cynical and resentful) · te చేదు (having an acrid taste) · bg остър (harsh, piercing or stinging) · id pahit (having an acrid taste) · ga domlasta (cynical and resentful) · dlm amur (having an acrid taste) · hy սաստիկ (harsh, piercing or stinging) · hi कड़वा (having an acrid taste) · fur amâr (having an acrid taste) · eve гот (having an acrid taste) · sc rànzigu (having an acrid taste) · ru го́рький (harsh, piercing or stinging) · pt encarniçado (hateful or hostile) · lmo mar (having an acrid taste) · sv besk (having an acrid taste) · zom khe (having an acrid taste) · ga goirt (having an acrid taste) · mr उग्र (harsh, piercing or stinging) · sc amargu (having an acrid taste) · uga 𐎎𐎗 (having an acrid taste) · hu metsző (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ml കയ്പ്പ് (having an acrid taste) · es acibarado (having an acrid taste) · ota آجی (harsh, piercing or stinging) · so qadhaadh (having an acrid taste) · lt kartus (having an acrid taste) · ce къаьхьа (having an acrid taste) · am መራራ (having an acrid taste) · hi तीव्र (harsh, piercing or stinging) · sh трпак (having an acrid taste) · et kibe (having an acrid taste) · la asper (hateful or hostile) · hy խայթող (cynical and resentful) · fr haineux (hateful or hostile) · my ခါး (having an acrid taste) · fr haïssable (hateful or hostile) · vi đắng (having an acrid taste) · tr yakıcı (having an acrid taste) · ja 激しい (harsh, piercing or stinging) · tsg mapait (having an acrid taste) · he מרירה (having an acrid taste) · arz مر (having an acrid taste) · sah аһыы (having an acrid taste) · io bitra (having an acrid taste) · sv bitter (having an acrid taste) · mi pūraurau (cynical and resentful) · da bitter (cynical and resentful) · sdn ràncicu (having an acrid taste) · sv bitter (hateful or hostile) · sk horký (having an acrid taste) · tg талх (having an acrid taste) · pt agudo (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ru суро́вый (harsh, piercing or stinging) · mr तीव्र (harsh, piercing or stinging) · et mõru (having an acrid taste) · mk горчлив (having an acrid taste) · el πικρός (having an acrid taste) · dlm marcus (having an acrid taste) · fr odieux (hateful or hostile) · hi कड़ा (having an acrid taste) · lv sūrs (having an acrid taste) · nl scherp (harsh, piercing or stinging) · da bitter (having an acrid taste) · mrw mapa'it (having an acrid taste) · hu elkeseredett (hateful or hostile) · ngh ǁxʼaaqʻi (having an acrid taste) · fr sévère (harsh, piercing or stinging) · akk 𒋀 (having an acrid taste) · ru злой (cynical and resentful) · ctd kha (having an acrid taste) · ky ачуу (having an acrid taste) · sdc rànzigu (having an acrid taste) · ur کڑوا (having an acrid taste) · sh опор (having an acrid taste) · it amara (having an acrid taste) · ja 憎らしい (hateful or hostile) · mnc ᡤᠣᠰᡳᡥᠣᠨ (having an acrid taste) · mak pai (having an acrid taste) · ja 過酷な (harsh, piercing or stinging) · rup amar (having an acrid taste) · hy մռու (having an acrid taste) · inh къахьа (having an acrid taste) · kmr tal (having an acrid taste) · hi तल्ख (having an acrid taste) · eu mingots (having an acrid taste) · pt penetrante (harsh, piercing or stinging) · ru ненави́стный (hateful or hostile) · kix khōushāk (cynical and resentful) · tr iliklere işleyen (having an acrid taste) · ar مُرّ (having an acrid taste) · nxq ka (having an acrid taste) · sh trpak (having an acrid taste) · pam mapait (having an acrid taste) · mns-nor восьрамыӈ (having an acrid taste) · cmn 心酸 (cynical and resentful) · ru вражде́бный (hateful or hostile) · az acı (having an acrid taste) · he מָרִיר (having an acrid taste) · de verhasst (hateful or hostile) · fo beiskur (having an acrid taste) · nds bitter (having an acrid taste) · ja いやな (hateful or hostile) · fr amer (cynical and resentful)