bitterness
Taste of grapefruit
Bitterness is one of the basic tastes—sharp, acrid, and often unpleasant, like unsweetened coffee or quinine.
Extended to emotion, bitterness describes deep resentment or lasting anger over perceived wrongs: Years later, she still spoke of the divorce with bitterness.
The word captures both the sharp quality of the taste and the lingering, hard-to-swallow nature of the feeling.
Persistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- spitePetty malicious intent
malice · rancor · acrimony · ill will · grievance · hard feelings · bad blood · vitriol
Antimalarial alkaloid from bark
- grapefruitTangy citrus, often halved
- unsweetenedContains no sweetener
- cacaoTropical pod-bearing tree
- black coffeeUnadorned brewed beverage
tonic water · dandelion greens · kale · endive · radicchio · escarole · hoppy · IPA
Chemically burning; bitterly mocking
- pungentSharply strong-smelling
- harshUnpleasantly severe or rough
- acerbicSharp and biting
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
astringent · sour · tart · burning · noxious · choking · stinging · corrosive
Unpleasantly severe or rough
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- cuttingDividing via sharp edge
- rawIn original state
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
stinging · brisk · frigid · penetrating · severe · brutal · numbing · bone-chilling
Deep emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- lossBeing without something
- mourningPeriod following loss
regret · remorse · disappointment · disillusionment · melancholy · woe · lamentation · despair
State of being displeased
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
- alienationState of being isolated
disaffection · jadedness · world-weariness · pessimism · disenchantment · ennui · malaise
grudge
Persistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
spite · malice · rancor · acrimony · ill will · grievance · hard feelings · bad blood · vitriol · vengefulness
quinine
Antimalarial alkaloid from bark
- grapefruitTangy citrus, often halved
- unsweetenedContains no sweetener
- cacaoTropical pod-bearing tree
black coffee · tonic water · dandelion greens · kale · endive · radicchio · escarole · hoppy · IPA · wormwood
caustic
Chemically burning; bitterly mocking
sharp · astringent · sour · tart · burning · noxious · choking · stinging · corrosive
harsh
Unpleasantly severe or rough
sharp · stinging · brisk · frigid · penetrating · severe · brutal · numbing · bone-chilling
sorrow
Deep emotional distress
mourning · regret · remorse · disappointment · disillusionment · melancholy · woe · lamentation · despair · desolation
dissatisfaction
State of being displeased
- cynicismDistrust of human sincerity
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- frustrationDispleasure from blocked efforts
alienation · disaffection · jadedness · world-weariness · pessimism · disenchantment · ennui · malaise
- bad attitudesnegativity, cynicism, pessimism, hostility, contempt
- petty behaviorsspite, malice, meanness, nastiness, resentment
- sensory experiencessight, sound, touch, taste, smell
- taste qualitiesflavor, taste, tastiness, deliciousness, sweetness
- tensionsstrain, friction, hostility, discord, strife
- bitternessresentment, rancor, acrimony, grudge, spite
bitternesssweetness
Sugary taste quality
sugariness · blandness · mildness · mellowness · richness
bitternesscontentment
Peaceful satisfaction with circumstances
peace · acceptance · forgiveness · happiness · serenity
bitternessgoodwill
Kindly, generous spirit
warmth · magnanimity · benevolence · friendliness · kindness
biting, bitter, bitterly, bitty, embitter, bitters, biter, bitterest, bittersweet