bitter

1 adjective

1 ANGRY/UPSET full of angry, jealous, and unhappy feelings because you think you have been badly treated or that unfair things have happened to you: He became bitter and disillusioned as he grew older.

(+ about): They all lost their jobs when the company was taken over, and obviously they're very bitter about it.

2 CAUSING UNHAPPINESS (only before noun) making you feel very unhappy and upset: Losing the election was a bitter humiliation. | a bitter disappointment/blow If he failed, it would be a bitter disappointment to his parents. | from bitter experience (=because of your own very unpleasant experiences): We had learned from bitter experience not to trust their promises.

3 FULL OF HATRED a bitter argument, attack, struggle etc is one in which people oppose or criticize each other with strong feelings of hate and anger: bitter opposition to the President's policies | bitter enemies

4 TASTE having a strong taste like black coffee without sugar, or very dark chocolate: The medicine tasted bitter and the child spat it out.

-compare sweet 1 (1), sour 1 (1)

5 COLD unpleasantly cold: a bitter east wind | bitter cold: a bitter cold day in February

-see cold 1

6 to the bitter end continuing until the end, in spite of problems or difficulties: She stayed with him to the bitter end, although it must have been horrible.

7 a bitter pill (to swallow) something very unpleasant that you have to accept: His failure was a bitter pill to swallow.

-see also: bitterly - bitterness noun (U) 2 noun

1 (C, U) BrE bitter beer of the type drunk in Britain, or a glass of this: A pint of bitter, please

-compare mild

2 bitters (U) a bitter liquid made from a mixture of plant products and used to add taste to alcoholic drinks