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bittering

bittering

7.8
The act of making something taste sharp and unpleasant or making people feel angry and hurt
  • noun
  • /ˈbɪtərɪŋ/
translation icon : amargor
  • Some brewers use hops for the bittering of beer to balance its sweetness.

Examples

  • The bittering of their relationship was clear after the argument.

  • The bittering of the coffee was unexpected.

  • The bittering of the soup was unintentional, caused by too many herbs.

  • The bittering process in the recipe was crucial.

  • The bittering of the soup was unintentional, caused by too many herbs.

  • Some brewers use hops for the bittering of beer to balance its sweetness.

  • The bittering process in the recipe was crucial.

Synonyms

bitterness
vsbittering
9 2.6

A sharp unpleasant taste found in foods like black coffee

is the action of causing that taste or an unpleasant feeling
acridity
vsbittering
9.6

A strong sharp taste or smell that feels unpleasant

is the action of producing that strong taste or feeling
acridness
vsbittering
8.1

A strong, bitter smell or taste that burns the nose

focuses on making that quality appear in flavour or emotion
acerbity
vsbittering
9.9

A sharp, sour taste that makes your mouth pucker

is the act or process that creates such taste or an unpleasant feeling

Antonyms

34 1.0

A pleasant sugary taste like ripe fruit or honey

2 7.9

A change that makes something better or less severe

Surface Forms

bittering singular
bitterings plural

Morphology

bittering = bitter (transparent) = bitter + ing

A straightforward gerund/nominalization from 'bitter' indicating the act or process of making something bitter.

Etymology

Bittering comes from the old English bitter, from a word like bite that meant 'to bite' or 'hurt', so 'bitter' can also mean 'hurtful' or painful feelings. That's why the 'bittering' of a relationship is the process that makes emotions 'bitter' or full of hurt.