51Թ

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View synonyms for

bittersweet

[bit-er-sweet, bit-er-sweet, bit-er-sweet]

adjective

  1. both bitter and sweet to the taste.

    bittersweet chocolate.

  2. both pleasant and painful or regretful.

    a bittersweet memory.



noun

  1. Also called woody nightshade.a climbing or trailing plant, Solanum dulcamara, of the nightshade family, having small, violet, star-shaped flowers with a protruding yellow center and scarlet berries.

  2. Also called climbing bittersweet.any climbing plant of the genus Celastrus, bearing orange capsules opening to expose red-coated seeds, especially C. scandens.

  3. pleasure mingled with pain or regret.

    the bittersweet of parting.

bittersweet

/ ˈɪəˌɾː /

noun

  1. any of several North American woody climbing plants of the genus Celastrus , esp C. scandens , having orange capsules that open to expose scarlet-coated seeds: family Celastraceae

  2. another name for woody nightshade

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. tasting of or being a mixture of bitterness and sweetness

  2. pleasant but tinged with sadness

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • bittersweetly adverb
  • bittersweetness noun
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of bittersweet1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; bitter + sweet
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“It’s bittersweet because it’s supposed to be a celebration moment and it kind of got overshadowed by fear,” the mother said.

From

Ahead of the ceremony, senior Cash Allen said it was “bittersweet” to graduate at the Bowl instead the Stadium by the Sea, where he played for Pali’s football team.

From

When James Blunt released “You’re Beautiful” in 2005, it quickly climbed the charts around the world, hailed as a bittersweet love song perfect for weddings, first dances, and sappy rom-com montages.

From

But it was a bittersweet celebration, as her partner remained in the US for two more weeks, caught up in ongoing legal proceedings.

From

And in some ways it’s a bittersweet return.

From

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When To Use

What does bittersweet mean?

Bittersweet describes something that tastes both harsh or acrid and sugary, such as a chocolate with less sugar, intended for baking into something sweet, like a cake.Bittersweet also describes something that is both pleasant and regretful, such as graduating from high school. You’re excited about what comes after high school, but you’ll miss seeing your friends everyday. Graduation is a bittersweet moment.Bittersweet is another name for Solanum dulcamara, or woody nightshade, a creeping, vine-like plant that can be poisonous in large quantities.Bittersweet could also refer to any climbing plant of the genus Celastrus.Example: I take just a little sugar in my coffee because I like a bittersweet taste.

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