BITTERLY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does bitterly mean? 

• BITTERLY (adverb)
  The adverb BITTERLY has 3 senses:

1. with bitterness; in a resentful manner

2. indicating something hard to accept

3. extremely and sharply

  Familiarity information: BITTERLY used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BITTERLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

With bitterness; in a resentful manner

Context example:

she complained bitterly

Pertainym:

bitter (marked by strong resentment or cynicism)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Indicating something hard to accept

Context example:

he was bitterly disappointed

Pertainym:

bitter (very difficult to accept or bear)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Extremely and sharply

Synonyms:

bitingly; bitter; bitterly; piercingly

Context example:

bitter cold

Pertainym:

bitter (causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold)

 Context examples 

There were three branches of the contest, and he entered them all, laughing at himself bitterly the while in that he was driven to such straits to live.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Sometimes she would cry bitterly for hours, with Toto sitting at her feet and looking into her face, whining dismally to show how sorry he was for his little mistress.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Then Chanticleer was very sorry, and cried bitterly; and all the beasts came and wept with him over poor Partlet.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

You have at least the satisfaction of knowing that for thirty years of his life his conscience bitterly reproached him for this wicked deed.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Pray make no apology to me,” said Lord St. Simon bitterly.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Copperfield, returned Mr. Micawber, bitterly, when I was an inmate of that retreat I could look my fellow-man in the face, and punch his head if he offended me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The morning is bitterly cold; the furnace heat is grateful, though we have heavy fur coats.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I laughed bitterly to myself, and seemed to find in Wolf Larsen’s forbidding philosophy a more adequate explanation of life than I found in my own.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I was unable to pursue the train of thought; a thousand feelings pressed upon me, and I wept bitterly.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“Perhaps you would have done no better,” I answered bitterly.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)