hard pill to swallow
Unwelcome but true
A hard pill to swallow is something difficult to accept, especially an unpleasant truth or disappointing outcome.
The image is of medicine that's necessary but unpleasant going down: Losing to our rivals was a hard pill to swallow.
Often shortened to a tough pill or a bitter pill.
Violent sudden disturbance
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- disappointmentSadness from unmet expectations
disillusionment · grief · hurt · devastation · blow · sting · pain · distress
Refusal to accept reality
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- stubbornnessRefusal to yield
- refusalAct of declining
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
reluctance · pushback · avoidance · deflection · unwillingness · obstinacy · bargaining · rationalization
Good judgment from experience
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- humilityFreedom from arrogance
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
perspective · learning · reflection · experience · transformation · adaptation · self-awareness · character-building
What actually exists
- realizationGrasping what's true
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- admissionEntry or confession
confession · honesty · bluntness · eye-opener
Confirmation of receipt
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
compliance · yielding · concession · submission · capitulation · assent · concurrence · recognition
shock
Violent sudden disturbance
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
disappointment · disillusionment · grief · hurt · devastation · blow · sting · pain · distress · anguish
denial
Refusal to accept reality
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
- stubbornnessRefusal to yield
- refusalAct of declining
rejection · reluctance · pushback · avoidance · deflection · unwillingness · obstinacy · bargaining · rationalization · disbelief
wisdom
Good judgment from experience
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- humilityFreedom from arrogance
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
resilience · perspective · learning · reflection · experience · transformation · adaptation · self-awareness · character-building · hindsight
reality
What actually exists
- realizationGrasping what's true
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
admission · confession · honesty · bluntness · eye-opener
acknowledgment
Confirmation of receipt
- resignationVoluntary relinquishment of position
- acquiescenceUnresisting acceptance
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
surrender · compliance · yielding · concession · submission · capitulation · assent · concurrence · recognition · tolerance
hard pill to swallowgood news
Favorable information received
breath of fresh air · pleasant surprise · happy news · blessing · glad tidings
swallow, harder, hardest, harden, hardened, hardening, hardness, hardly, hardship