Meaning & use
feeling bitter
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Meanings
phraseidiom
experiencing angry disappointment because you think you have been treated unfairly.
Grammar: Often followed by 'about' or 'towards': feeling bitter about the past.
Patterns
- feeling bitter about something
- feeling bitter towards someone
- feeling bitter over something
He was still feeling bitter about losing his job.
She felt bitter towards her former friend after the betrayal.
After years of being ignored, he felt bitter and resentful.
phraseidiom
showing lasting resentment that makes someone harsh or unfriendly.
Grammar: Can describe a person's general attitude: a bitter old man.
Patterns
- a bitter person
- bitter feelings
He became a bitter man after the divorce.
Her bitter tone made it clear she hadn't forgiven him.
Common combinations
- feeling bitter about the past
- She was still feeling bitter about the past and couldn't move on.
- feeling bitter towards someone
- He felt bitter towards his brother for taking the inheritance.
- bitter disappointment
- The team's loss was a bitter disappointment for the fans.
- a bitter argument
- They had a bitter argument that left both feeling hurt.
Synonyms and how they differ
- resentful
- Resentful is close in meaning but focuses on the feeling of being treated unfairly; bitter adds a sense of lasting anger and disappointment.
- angry
- Angry is a more general emotion; bitter is a specific, long-lasting anger mixed with disappointment.
- embittered
- Embittered is more formal and means made bitter by experiences; it often describes a person's lasting state.
Opposites
Word family
- bitterness noun
- The feeling of being bitter.
- bitterly adverb
- In a bitter way; often used with 'disappointed' or 'complain'.
- embitter verb
- To make someone feel bitter.
Commonly confused: feeling bitter or bitter?
feeling bitter vs bitter
'Bitter' can also describe a sharp taste, like strong coffee or dark chocolate. 'Feeling bitter' is only about emotions.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'feeling bitter' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct preposition after 'feeling bitter' is 'about' when talking about a situation. 'For' can be used when blaming someone, but not here; 'with' and 'on' do not fit this pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “feeling bitter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.