Bitterness

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Bitterness \Bit"ter*ness\, n. [AS. biternys; biter better + -nys
     = -ness.]
     1. The quality or state of being bitter, sharp, or acrid, in
        either a literal or figurative sense; implacableness;
        resentfulness; severity; keenness of reproach or sarcasm;
        deep distress, grief, or vexation of mind.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              The lip that curls with bitterness.   --Percival.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. --Job
                                                    vii. 11.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond
              of iniquity.                          --Acts viii.
                                                    23.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Dangerous error, or schism, tending to draw persons to
        apostasy.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Looking diligently, . . . lest any root of
              bitterness springing up trouble you.  --Heb. xii.
                                                    15.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  bitterness
       n 1: a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will [syn: {resentment},
             {gall}, {rancor}, {rancour}]
       2: a sharp and bitter manner [syn: {acrimony}, {acerbity}, {jaundice}]
       3: the taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into
          the mouth [syn: {bitter}]
       4: the property of having a harsh unpleasant taste [syn: {bitter}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  172 Moby Thesaurus words for "bitterness":
     absolute zero, acerbity, aching heart, acid, acidity, acidness,
     acidulousness, acridity, acridness, acrimony, agony, agony of mind,
     algidity, anguish, animosity, animus, antagonism, apologies,
     asperity, astringence, astringency, attrition, ayenbite of inwit,
     bad blood, bale, bile, bite, bitingness, bitter feeling,
     bitter pill, bitter resentment, bitterness, bitterness of spirit,
     bleakness, bleeding heart, briskness, broken heart, causticity,
     causticness, cheerlessness, chill, chilliness, choler, cold,
     coldness, comfortlessness, contriteness, contrition, cool,
     coolness, coolth, corrosiveness, crispness, crushing, cryogenics,
     cryology, cuttingness, decrease in temperature, depression,
     depth of misery, desolation, despair, discomfort, dismalness,
     distress, distressfulness, dreariness, edge, enmity, extremity,
     feud, fierceness, freezing point, freshness, frigidity, frostiness,
     gall, gall and wormwood, gelidity, gnashing of teeth, grief,
     grievousness, grip, hard feelings, harshness, hatred, heartache,
     heartburning, heavy heart, hostility, iciness, ill blood,
     ill feeling, ill will, incisiveness, inclemency, infelicity,
     intense cold, joylessness, keenness, lamentability, lamentation,
     low temperature, melancholia, melancholy, misery, mordacity,
     mordancy, mournfulness, nip, nippiness, pain, painfulness, pathos,
     piercingness, piquancy, pitiability, pitiableness, pitifulness,
     poignancy, point, prostration, pungency, rancor, rankling, rawness,
     regret, regretfulness, regrets, regrettableness, regretting,
     remorse, remorse of conscience, remorsefulness, repining,
     resentment, rigor, roughness, sadness, severity, shame,
     shamefacedness, shamefastness, shamefulness, sharp air, sharpness,
     slow burn, soreness, sorriness, sorrow, sorrowfulness, sourness,
     spleen, stabbingness, sting, stridency, stringency,
     suicidal despair, tartness, teeth, trenchancy, vehemence, vendetta,
     venom, violence, virulence, vitriol, wistfulness, woe,
     woebegoneness, woefulness, wretchedness