Bitterness refers to a deep feeling of resentment, disappointment, or sadness, often caused by past experiences of unfair treatment, betrayal, or failure. It can also describe a harsh, unpleasant taste, both literally (as in food) and figuratively (as in emotions). Bitterness often lingers and can lead to grudges, negativity, or hostility toward others. In Indonesian, “bitterness” can be translated as “kepahitan,” “kedongkolan,” or “kekecewaan mendalam.”
Synonyms of “Bitterness”:
- Resentment (kedongkolan/dendam)
- Animosity (permusuhan)
- Hostility (permusuhan)
- Anger (kemarahan)
- Discontent (ketidakpuasan)
- Wrath (kemarahan besar)
- Fury (kemarahan hebat)
- Spite (kedengkian)
- Malice (niat jahat)
- Rancor (dendam berkepanjangan)
Example Sentences Using “Bitterness”:
- His voice was filled with bitterness as he recalled his past failures.
- She struggled to let go of the bitterness she felt after being betrayed.
- The bitterness of their argument lasted for years.
- His bitterness toward his former friend prevented reconciliation.
- The bitterness of losing the competition was hard for him to accept.
- Over time, her bitterness faded as she learned to forgive.
- The bitterness between the two nations made diplomacy difficult.
- He spoke with bitterness about how unfairly he had been treated.
- The bitterness of coffee was too strong for her taste.
- Holding onto bitterness will only harm your own happiness.
Related Words:
- Grudge (dendam)
- Jealousy (kecemburuan)
- Distrust (ketidakpercayaan)
- Coldness (ketidakpedulian atau sikap dingin)
- Prejudice (prasangka buruk)
- Vindictiveness (keinginan untuk membalas dendam)
- Disappointment (kekecewaan)
- Cynicism (kesinisan)
Antonyms of “Bitterness”:
- Forgiveness (pengampunan)
- Contentment (kepuasan)
- Joy (kegembiraan)
- Happiness (kebahagiaan)
- Peace (kedamaian)
- Kindness (kebaikan)
- Love (cinta)
- Goodwill (itikad baik)
- Compassion (belas kasih)
- Gratitude (rasa syukur)
Phrasal Verbs Related to “Bitterness”:
- Hold onto – To keep bitterness inside (“She held onto her bitterness for years.”)
- Let go of – To release bitterness or resentment (“He decided to let go of his bitterness and move on.”)
- Dwell on – To keep thinking about past bitterness (“She keeps dwelling on the bitterness of her past.”)
- Get over – To recover from bitterness (“It took him years to get over his bitterness toward his father.”)
- Work through – To process and overcome bitterness (“She worked through her bitterness with therapy.”)
Idiomatic Expressions Related to “Bitterness”:
- “A chip on one’s shoulder” – Holding onto bitterness or resentment.
- “Taste of one’s own medicine” – Experiencing bitterness as a result of one’s own actions.
- “Bite the bullet” – Enduring pain or bitterness without complaint.
- “Adding insult to injury” – Making bitterness worse by further offending someone.
- “Hard to swallow” – Something emotionally painful or bitter to accept.
How to Overcome Bitterness
If you struggle with bitterness, here are ways to manage it:
- Practice forgiveness – Holding onto bitterness only harms yourself.
- Express emotions healthily – Talk about your feelings instead of bottling them up.
- Focus on the present and future – Let go of past disappointments and move forward.
- Surround yourself with positivity – Engage with uplifting people and activities.
- Develop gratitude – Appreciate the good things in life to reduce bitterness.
Conclusion
Bitterness is a strong feeling of resentment, anger, or disappointment, often rooted in past experiences. It can negatively affect relationships and emotional well-being, but by forgiving, letting go, and focusing on positivity, one can replace bitterness with peace and happiness.
