bitter

The word “bitter” means having a sharp, unpleasant taste, the opposite of sweet. In plain terms, a sharp, harsh taste, or (of a person) feeling resentful and hurt.

“Bitter” is pronounced BIHT-uh (/ˈbɪ.tɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “bitter” used in a sentence: “The coffee was too bitter without sugar.”

Words with a similar meaning to “bitter” include acrid, caustic, acerb, acerbic, bittersome and sharp.

The opposite of “bitter” — its antonyms — are optimistic and sweet.

Depending on how it is used, “bitter” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “bitter” comes from Old English. From Old English biter, related to the verb "bite" — something bitter was originally thought of as tasting sharp enough to "bite" the tongue.

“Bitter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

'Bitter' describes a sharp, often harsh taste like that of black coffee or dark chocolate, while 'sour' describes the acidic tang of foods like lemons or vinegar. They are two distinct basic tastes, even though both are sometimes loosely called 'sharp.'

Anger is usually an immediate, active emotion, whereas bitterness is a lingering resentment that builds up over time from hurt or disappointment. Someone described as 'bitter' tends to hold on to negative feelings long after the event that caused them.

In British English, 'a bitter' is a type of pale ale with a hoppy, moderately bitter flavour, commonly ordered in pubs. Used this way, 'bitter' is a countable noun for the drink rather than an adjective describing taste.