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]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

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

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

bitterness

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

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.

The lip that curls with bitterness. --Percival.

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. --Job vii. 11.

2. A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God.

Thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. --Acts viii. 23.

3. Dangerous error, or schism, tending to draw persons to apostasy.

Looking diligently, . . . lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you. --Heb. xii. 15.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)