The meaning of Bitter

adjective

Another term for acerbic.

Usage examples:

Dry, acerb, literate satire

adjective

(especially of a comment or style of speaking) sharp and forthright.

Usage examples:

His acerbic wit

adjective

Producing or resembling vinegar.

Usage examples:

Acetous fermentation

noun

A substance with particular chemical properties including turning litmus red, neutralizing alkalis, and dissolving some metals; typically, a corrosive or sour-tasting liquid of this kind.

Usage examples:

Trees were exposed to mixtures of heavy metals, acids, and overdoses of nutrients

adjective

Containing acid or having the properties of an acid; having a ph of less than 7.

Usage examples:

Acid soils

noun

Any of various chemical substances that can produce salts, some of which are able to damage whatever they touch

Usage examples:

The salad dressing has an acid taste.

adjective

Having the properties of an acid, or containing acid; having a ph below 7.

Usage examples:

A cocktail of acidic pollutants

noun

Having a ph of less than 7

adjective

Containing or having the chemical characteristics of an acid

adjective

Unpleasantly bitter or pungent.

Usage examples:

Acrid smoke

adjective

Strong, bitter, and unpleasant

Usage examples:

The electrical fire sent thick clouds of acrid smoke through the office.

adjective

Feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated.

Usage examples:

They were aggrieved at the outcome

adjective

Unhappy, hurt, and angry because of unfair treatment

Usage examples:

Our hearts go out to the aggrieved families of the innocent victims.

adjective

Causing great physical or mental pain.

Usage examples:

An agonizing death

verb

Undergo great mental anguish through worrying about something.

Usage examples:

I didn't agonize over the problem

adjective

Causing extreme physical or mental pain

Usage examples:

An agonizing death, she went through an agonizing few weeks waiting for the test results., we are f…

adjective

Relating to the regions around the north pole.

Usage examples:

An arctic explorer

noun

The regions around the north pole.

adjective

Very bad or unpleasant.

Usage examples:

The place smelled awful

adverb

Awfully; very.

Usage examples:

We're an awful long way from the motorway

adjective

Relating to the baltic sea or the region surrounding it.

Usage examples:

It supports the restoration of a levy on grain imports from the black sea and baltic regions and pl…

noun

The baltic sea or the baltic states.

adjective

Belonging to or relating to the baltic sea or the countries surrounding it

Usage examples:

It's baltic outside.

verb

Envy (someone) the possession or enjoyment of (something).

Usage examples:

She begrudged martin his affluence

adjective

Given reluctantly or resentfully.

Usage examples:

Begrudging admiration from a rival

adjective

Given or done unwillingly

Usage examples:

The concert attracted begrudging praise from the band's usually hostile critics.

adjective

(of insects and certain other animals) able to wound the skin with a sting or fangs.

Usage examples:

A cream to ward off biting insects

verb

(of a person or animal) use the teeth to cut into or through something.

Usage examples:

He bit off a piece of cheese

noun

A bite-sized piece of food; a small snack, appetizer, or canapé.

Usage examples:

The hotel bar serves cocktails and delicious bitings

noun

An unpleasant feeling of coldness in the atmosphere, one's surroundings, or the body.

Usage examples:

There was a chill in the air

verb

Make (someone) cold.

Usage examples:

They were chilled by a sudden wind

adjective

Chilly.

Usage examples:

The chill grey dawn

adjective

Uncomfortably or unpleasantly cold.

Usage examples:

A chilly february evening

adjective

Cold but not freezing

Usage examples:

A chilly morning, fig. their relationship was decidedly chilly (= unfriendly) after the argument.

adjective

Rude in a mean-spirited and surly way.

Usage examples:

It seems churlish to complain

adjective

Rude, unfriendly, and unpleasant

Usage examples:

[ + to infinitive ] they invited me to dinner and i thought it would be churlish to refuse., i chur…

adjective

Wilfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it.

Usage examples:

People who are cruel to animals

verb

Spoil or ruin (an opportunity or a chance of success).

Usage examples:

Ernie nearly cruelled the whole thing by laughing

adjective

Extremely unkind and intentionally causing pain

Usage examples:

Her classmates made some cruel remarks., is the death penalty cruel and unusual punishment?, i thin…

adjective

Unpleasant or unenjoyable.

Usage examples:

A disagreeable thought

adjective

Unpleasant; unattractive

Usage examples:

The drinking water had a disagreeable oily taste.

adjective

Dissatisfied, especially with one's circumstances.

Usage examples:

I am so discontented with my work

adjective

Feeling unhappy because you want better treatment or an improved situation

Usage examples:

He had to cope with large numbers of discontented passengers., nurses are increasingly discontented…

adjective

Angry or dissatisfied.

Usage examples:

Judges receive letters from disgruntled members of the public

verb

Make (someone) angry or dissatisfied.

Usage examples:

Nothing disgruntles anyone more than the feeling they are being cheated

adjective

Unhappy, annoyed, and disappointed about something

Usage examples:

A disgruntled employee

adjective

Inducing feelings of anxiety or worry.

Usage examples:

He found jean's gaze disquieting

verb

Make (someone) worried or uneasy.

Usage examples:

World leaders are surely disquieted by the prospect of a global economic meltdown

adjective

Causing anxiety; worrying

Usage examples:

The sheer size of their armed forces is a disquieting factor for neighboring countries.

adjective

Not content or happy with something.

Usage examples:

His parents are dissatisfied with the quality of tuition on offer

verb

Fail to satisfy (someone).

Usage examples:

What is it about these words that dissatisfies you?

adjective

Not pleased with something; feeling that something is not as good as it should be

Usage examples:

She was dissatisfied with her job and decided to look for a new one., many of the opinion surveys s…

adjective

Causing anxiety, sorrow or pain; upsetting.

Usage examples:

Some very distressing news

verb

Cause (someone) anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

Usage examples:

I didn't mean to distress you

adjective

Upsetting or worrying

Usage examples:

The news reports about the famine were very distressing., it was deeply distressing for him to see …

adjective

Causing anxiety; worrying.

Usage examples:

Disturbing unemployment figures

verb

Interfere with the normal arrangement or functioning of.

Usage examples:

Take the rollers out carefully so as not to disturb the curls too much

adjective

Making you feel worried or upset

Usage examples:

The article described the latest crime figures as "disturbing"., the following programme contains s…

adjective

Angry or resentful at having been treated unfairly.

Usage examples:

He died an embittered man

verb

Make (someone) feel bitter or resentful.

Usage examples:

He didn't let illness and divorce embitter him

adjective

Very angry about unfair things that have happened to you

Usage examples:

They ignored all her pleas and she became very embittered., he died a disillusioned and embittered …

adjective

Below 0°c.

Usage examples:

Strong winds and freezing temperatures

noun

The freezing point of water (0°c).

Usage examples:

The temperature was well above freezing

verb

(with reference to a liquid) turn or be turned into ice or another solid as a result of extreme cold.

Usage examples:

In the winter the milk froze

adjective

Very cold in temperature.

Usage examples:

The air was frigid, and spectators shivered against the cold

adjective

(of weather conditions or the conditions in a room) extremely cold

Usage examples:

Few plants can grow in such a frigid environment.

adjective

Unfriendly or very formal

Usage examples:

She turned her frigid gaze on him.

adjective

(of the weather) very cold, with frost forming on surfaces.

Usage examples:

A cold and frosty morning

adjective

Unfriendly or not welcoming

Usage examples:

A frosty manner, we each had a root beer served in a frosty glass with a big handle.

adjective

Very cold, with a thin layer of white ice covering everything

Usage examples:

The frosty air stung my cheeks., it was a cold and frosty morning.

adjective

Relating to or denoting the presence or agency of ice, especially in the form of glaciers.

Usage examples:

Thick glacial deposits

noun

A glacial period.

Usage examples:

This then provides the opportunity for milankovich cycles to become the pacemaker of the ice ages, …

adjective

Made or left by a glacier

Usage examples:

Glacial deposits, glacial temperatures, a glacial period, she gave me a glacial stare., the case is…

adjective

(of something bad) very severe or serious.

Usage examples:

His death was a grievous blow

adjective

Having very serious effects or causing great pain

Usage examples:

It was a grievous head wound, and he was not expected to survive., he was grievously injured.

adjective

Given or allowed only reluctantly or resentfully.

Usage examples:

A grudging apology

verb

Be resentfully unwilling to give or allow (something).

Usage examples:

He grudged the work and time that the meeting involved

adjective

Acutely distressing.

Usage examples:

A harrowing film about racism and violence

verb

Draw a harrow over (land).

Usage examples:

They ploughed and harrowed the heavy clay

adjective

Extremely upsetting because connected with suffering

Usage examples:

His book tells the harrowing story of how they climbed mt. everest.

adjective

Unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses.

Usage examples:

Drenched in a harsh white neon light

adjective

Unkind or cruel or uncivil

adjective

Unkind or cruel

Usage examples:

Harsh criticism, a harsh winter, harsh lighting

adjective

Causing overwhelming distress; very upsetting.

Usage examples:

It would be heartbreaking to see it all collapse

adjective

Causing extreme sadness

Usage examples:

A heartbreaking story, it is heartbreaking (for him) that he cannot see his children.

adjective

Covered with or consisting of ice.

Usage examples:

There were icy patches on the roads

adjective

To not be friendly to someone or not support them

Usage examples:

Most of the audience seemed ill-disposed towards the speaker.

adjective

Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment.

Usage examples:

He was indignant at being the object of suspicion

adjective

Angry because of something that is wrong or not fair

Usage examples:

She wrote an indignant letter to the paper complaining about the mayor’s actions., "your assumption…

adjective

Affected by jaundice, in particular unnaturally yellow in complexion.

Usage examples:

The 16-year-old was walking in an alleyway between museum gardens and exhibition square when the ma…

adjective

Having or showing eagerness or enthusiasm.

Usage examples:

A keen gardener

verb

Wail in grief for a dead person.

Usage examples:

The body of johnny was taken by his own people who keened over him

noun

An irish funeral song accompanied by wailing in lamentation for the dead.

adjective

(of a person) wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable.

Usage examples:

Their happiness made anne feel even more miserable

adjective

Very unhappy, or causing much unhappiness

Usage examples:

They can make your life miserable if they want to., the forecast is for miserable weather today.

noun

A muslim inhabitant of the philippines.

Usage examples:

The spanish nicknamed the philippines' muslim inhabitants the moros, a corruption of the word moors.

adjective

Very bad or unpleasant.

Usage examples:

Plastic bags burn with a nasty, acrid smell

noun

An unpleasant or harmful person or thing.

Usage examples:

A water conditioner to neutralize chlorine and other nasties

Offensive or even (of persons) malicious

verb

Bite or pinch sharply.

Usage examples:

One of the dogs nipped him on the leg

verb

Take a sip or sips of spirits.

Usage examples:

The men nipped from the bottle

noun

A sharp bite or pinch.

Usage examples:

A strong beak which can deliver a serious nip

adjective

Able to move quickly; nimble.

Usage examples:

A very nippy scrum half

noun

A waitress in any of the restaurants of j. lyons & co. ltd in london from about 1920 to 1950.

Usage examples:

His waitresses were always impeccably turned out, originally nicknamed gladys but rechristened nipp…

adjective

Cold

Usage examples:

It’s a bit nippy outside.

adjective

(of a part of the body) affected with pain.

Usage examples:

Her ankle was very painful

adjective

Causing emotional or physical pain

Usage examples:

The old photograph brought back painful memories., a painful injury forced her to withdraw from the…

adjective

Chilly.

Usage examples:

It was parky on bradfield moors last week

noun

Variant spelling of parkie.

noun

A park-keeper.

adjective

Able to make a way through or into something.

Usage examples:

The problem of penetrating damp

verb

Go into or through (something), especially with force or effort.

Usage examples:

The shrapnel had penetrated his head

adjective

Having or showing shrewdness or keen intelligence.

Usage examples:

Her piercing analysis

noun

A small hole in a part of the body, typically other than the ears, made so as to insert a ring, stud, or other piece of jewellery.

Usage examples:

This is the place to get your tattoo or piercing done

verb

(of a sharp pointed object) go into or through (something).

Usage examples:

A splinter had pierced the skin

adjective

Evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

Usage examples:

A poignant reminder of the passing of time

adjective

Causing a feeling of sadness

Usage examples:

The monument is a poignant reminder of those who died in the war.

adjective

Having a sharply strong taste or smell.

Usage examples:

The pungent smell of frying onions

adjective

(of a smell or taste) very strong, sometimes in an unpleasant way

Usage examples:

Pungent odors

adjective

Characterized by bitterness or resentment.

Usage examples:

Sixteen miserable months of rancorous disputes

adjective

Having or showing a feeling of hate and continuing anger about something in the past

Usage examples:

A rancorous dispute, government leaders appear increasingly rancorous.

adjective

(of food) not cooked.

Usage examples:

Raw eggs

adjective

Feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly.

Usage examples:

He was angry and resentful of their intrusion

Full of or marked by indignant ill will

adjective

Feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy.

Usage examples:

I was sad and subdued

adjective

(of dough) heavy through having failed to rise.

abbreviation

Seasonal affective disorder.

adjective

(of an object) having an edge or point that is able to cut or pierce something.

Usage examples:

Cut the cake with a very sharp knife

adverb

Precisely (used after an expression of time).

Usage examples:

The meeting starts at 7.30 sharp

noun

A musical note raised a semitone above natural pitch.

Usage examples:

Choices in successive levels expand to all notes, then sharps and flats.

adjective

Having an acid taste like lemon or vinegar.

Usage examples:

She sampled the wine and found it was sour

noun

A drink made by mixing a spirit with lemon or lime juice.

Usage examples:

A rum sour

verb

Make or become sour.

Usage examples:

Water soured with tamarind

adjective

Showing or caused by malice.

Usage examples:

The teachers made spiteful little jokes about me

adjective

Wanting to annoy, upset, or hurt another person, especially in a small way, because you feel angry towards them

Usage examples:

A spiteful child, that was a spiteful thing to say!

adjective

Bad-tempered; spiteful.

Usage examples:

A splenetic rant

adjective

Having a sting; capable of wounding or piercing with a sting.

Usage examples:

A swarm of stinging insects

verb

Wound or pierce with a sting.

Usage examples:

He was stung by a jellyfish

adjective

Bad-tempered and sulky.

Usage examples:

A sullen pout

noun

A sulky or depressed mood.

Usage examples:

When i mentioned this, he lapsed back into the sullens.

noun

An open pastry case containing a sweet or savoury filling.

Usage examples:

An apple tart

verb

Dress or make oneself up in order to look attractive.

Usage examples:

I tarted myself up for the night

adjective

Sharp or acid in taste.

Usage examples:

A tart apple

adjective

Not happy.

Usage examples:

An unhappy marriage

adjective

Not feeling pleasure or satisfaction

Usage examples:

It was an unhappy time of her life., they were unhappy about their hotel room (= did not like it) a…

adjective

Causing discomfort, unhappiness, or revulsion; disagreeable.

Usage examples:

An unpleasant smell

adjective

Not attractive or enjoyable or easy to like

Usage examples:

An unpleasant surprise, unpleasant memories, an unpleasant young man, rob chuckled unpleasantly.

adjective

(of food or drink) without sugar or a similar substance having been added.

Usage examples:

Unsweetened grapefruit juice

adjective

With no sugar or other sweet substances added

Usage examples:

Unsweetened cranberry juice

adjective

Causing unhappiness, disappointment, or worry.

Usage examples:

A painful and upsetting divorce

noun

The action of knocking something over.

Usage examples:

Destruction was done by the breaking of pictures, upsetting of furniture, and chopping down of inte…

verb

Make (someone) unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

Usage examples:

The accusation upset her

adjective

Tasting of or containing vinegar.

Usage examples:

Onions in a sharp, vinegary sauce

adjective

Tasting or smelling like vinegar

Usage examples:

The wine was unpleasant and vinegary., a vinegary smell, i didn't want to become a vinegary old lady.

adjective

Characteristic of winter, especially in feeling or looking very cold and bleak.

Usage examples:

A wintry landscape

adjective

Typical of winter’s cold, windy, and snowy weather

Usage examples:

You’ll definitely need snow tires on your car for the wintry weather around here.

adjective

(of a person) in a very unhappy or unfortunate state.

Usage examples:

I felt so wretched because i thought i might never see you again

adjective

Unhappy or extremely sad

Usage examples:

He looked so ill and wretched as he spoke that he made me feel wretched myself., workers lived in w…