bitter

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bitter

(Acrid tasting), adjective absinthal, absinthian, acerbate, acerbic, acerbus, acid, acidulous, acidus, acrid, asper, biting, caustic, cutting, disagreeable, distasteful, sharp, sour, soured, sourish, tart, unappetizing, unpleasant, unsavory, unsweet, vinegarish

bitter

(Penetrating), adjective acrimonious, afflictive, austere, bilious, biting, brutal, burning, choleric, corrosive, cutting, double-edged, dyspeptic, harsh, incisive, keen, mordant, nasty, piercing, poignant, pricking, scathing, scorching, severe, smarting, sore, stabbing, stern, stinging, trenchant, venomous, virulent, withering

bitter

(Reproachful), adjective acrimonious, biting, caustic, cross, despiteful, embittered, hostile, hurtful, indignant, piqued, provoked, resentful, sarcastic, sardonic, scornful, sorrowful, spiteful, splenetic, unamiable, unhappy, vexed, vitriolic

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References in classic literature ?

Poor Meg seldom complained, but a sense of injustice made her feel bitter toward everyone sometimes, for she had not yet learned to know how rich she was in the blessings which alone can make life happy.

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After a moment's pause on the threshold, peering towards the window with her near-sighted scowl, as if frowning down some bitter enemy, she suddenly projected herself into the shop.

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At last, he emerged with his hat very much dented and crushed down over his eyes, and began creaking and limping about the room, as if, not being much accustomed to boots, his pair of damp, wrinkled cowhide ones -- probably not made to order either --rather pinched and tormented him at the first go off of a bitter cold morning.

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The bitter winter was coming, and they had to save money to get more clothing and bedding; but it would not matter in the least how much they saved, they could not get anything to keep them warm.

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And so fell George's last hope;--nothing before him but a life of toil and drudgery, rendered more bitter by every little smarting vexation and indignity which tyrannical ingenuity could devise.

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The bitter is indeed to come," said the countess; "and such bitter that colocynth is sweet and oleander toothsome in comparison.

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With tears I beseech you not to inquire further into the matter, for my heart is breaking, and life has grown indeed hard and bitter for me--Beloved, I offer you my respect, and remain ever your faithful friend,

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Could the patriots have known how bitter were their regrets, they would have forgiven them all their evil deeds, and sent a blessing after them as they sailed away from their native shore.

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The rivers, in general, were skirted with willows and bitter cottonwood trees, and the prairies covered with wormwood.

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On that occasion the bitter taste of a stranding was not for my mouth.

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Bowed to the earth with bitter woe Or laughing at some raree-show We flutter idly to and fro.

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The roofs shall fade before it, The house-beams shall fall, And the Karela, the bitter Karela, Shall cover it all!