bitterly
BIH-tuh-lee
Bitterly (adv) means In a bitter, resentful manner. Example: “He complained bitterly about the unfair decision.”
adv
1
In a bitter, resentful manner.
"Heidi threw herself down beside Clara's chair and began to cry bitterly."
— , Johanna Spyri (1956)
"He complained bitterly about the unfair decision."
"Liverpool's £58m strikeforce of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez scored the goals that settled the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park - but Everton were left complaining bitterly about Jack Rodwell's controversial early red card."
— Phil McNulty, Everton 0-2 Liverpool (2011)
2
Used as an intensifier meaning extremely, especially with cold or disappointment.
"It was bitterly cold on the mountain that night."
How to use bitterly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWith resentment or harshness, or as an intensifier meaning "extremely" (especially for cold or disappointment).
Common pairings
bitterly cold
bitterly disappointed
complain bitterly
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more bitterly
- Superlative
- most bitterly
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He complained _____ about the unfair decision.
Etymology
From Old English biterlīce, formed from "bitter" plus the adverb suffix "-ly".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for bitterly
See all rhymes for bitterly →Frequently asked questions
What does “bitterly” mean?
The word “bitterly” means in a bitter, resentful manner. In plain terms, with resentment or harshness, or as an intensifier meaning "extremely" (especially for cold or disappointment).
How do you pronounce “bitterly”?
“Bitterly” is pronounced BIH-tuh-lee (/ˈbɪtəɹli/ in IPA).
How do you use “bitterly” in a sentence?
Here is “bitterly” used in a sentence: “He complained bitterly about the unfair decision.”
What part of speech is “bitterly”?
“Bitterly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “bitterly” come from?
The word “bitterly” comes from Old English. From Old English biterlīce, formed from "bitter" plus the adverb suffix "-ly".
Is “bitterly” a common word?
“Bitterly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “bitterly” have?
“Bitterly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a bitter, resentful manner.
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