Bitter vs. Better — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Bitter and Better
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Bitter
Having or being a taste that is sharp, acrid, and unpleasant.
Better
More desirable, satisfactory, or effective
The new facilities were far better
I'm better at doing sums than Alice
We're hoping for better weather tomorrow
Bitter
Causing a sharply unpleasant, painful, or stinging sensation; harsh
Enveloped in bitter cold.
A bitter wind.
Better
Partly or fully recovered from illness, injury, or mental stress
His leg was getting better
Bitter
Difficult or distasteful to accept, admit, or bear
The bitter truth.
Bitter sorrow.
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Better
More excellently or effectively
Instruments are generally better made these days
Jonathon could do better if he tried
Sound travels better in water than in air
Bitter
Proceeding from or exhibiting strong animosity
A bitter struggle.
Bitter foes.
Better
The better one; that which is better
You've a right to expect better than that
The Natural History Museum book is by far the better of the two
A change for the better
Bitter
Resulting from or expressive of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment
Cried bitter tears.
Better
One's superiors in social class or ability
Educating the young to respect their elders and betters
Bitter
Marked by resentment or cynicism
"He was already a bitter elderly man with a gray face" (John Dos Passos).
Better
Variant spelling of bettor
Bitter
In an intense or harsh way; bitterly
A bitter cold night.
Better
Improve on or surpass (an existing or previous level or achievement)
Bettering his previous time by ten minutes
His account can hardly be bettered
Bitter
To make bitter.
Better
Greater in excellence or higher in quality
Which of the twins is the better skater?.
Bitter
That which is bitter
"all words ... / Failing to give the bitter of the sweet" (Tennyson).
Better
More useful, suitable, or desirable
Found a better way to go.
A suit with a better fit than that one.
Bitter
Bitters A bitter, usually alcoholic liquid made with herbs or roots and used in cocktails or as a tonic.
Better
More highly skilled or adept
I am better at math than English.
Bitter
Chiefly British A sharp-tasting beer made with hops.
Better
Greater or larger
Argued for the better part of an hour.
Bitter
Having an acrid taste (usually from a basic substance).
The coffee tasted bitter.
Better
More advantageous or favorable; improved
A better chance of success.
Bitter
Harsh, piercing or stinging.
Better
Healthier, more fit, or in less discomfort than before
The patient is better today.
Bitter
Hateful or hostile.
They're bitter enemies.
Better
In a satisfactory condition; right or proper
All is well.
Bitter
Cynical and resentful.
I've been bitter ever since that defeat.
Better
Not ailing, infirm, or diseased; healthy.
Bitter
(usually in the plural bitters) A liquid or powder, made from bitter herbs, used in mixed drinks or as a tonic.
Better
Cured or healed, as a wound.
Bitter
A type of beer heavily flavored with hops.
Better
Of or characterized by the maintenance of good health practices. Often used in combination
A well-baby clinic.
A well-child visit to the doctor.
Bitter
(nautical) A turn of a cable about the bitts.
Better
Advisable; prudent
It would be well not to ask.
Bitter
A hardware system whose architecture is based around units of the specified number of bits binary digits.
Better
Fortunate; good
It is well that you stayed.
Bitter
To make bitter.
Better
Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor
A good experience.
Good news from the hospital.
Bitter
AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts.
Better
Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing
A good exterior paint.
A good joke.
Bitter
Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.
Better
Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable
Is this a good dress for the party?.
Bitter
Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes.
Better
Not spoiled or ruined
The milk is still good.
Bitter
Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a bitter cold day.
Better
In excellent condition; sound
A good tooth.
Bitter
Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind; calamitous; poignant.
It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God.
Better
Superior to the average; satisfactory
A good student.
Bitter
Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern; virulent; as, bitter reproach.
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Better
Used formerly to refer to the US Government grade of meat higher than standard and lower than choice.
Bitter
Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable.
The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage.
Better
Of high quality
Good books.
Bitter
To make bitter.
Better
Discriminating
Good taste.
Bitter
English term for a dry sharp-tasting ale with strong flavor of hops (usually on draft)
Better
Of moral excellence; upright
A good person.
Bitter
The taste experience when quinine or coffee is taken into the mouth
Better
Benevolent; kind
A good soul.
A good heart.
Bitter
The property of having a harsh unpleasant taste
Better
Loyal; staunch
A good Republican.
Bitter
Make bitter
Better
Well-behaved; obedient
A good child.
Bitter
Marked by strong resentment or cynicism;
An acrimonious dispute
Bitter about the divorce
Better
Socially correct; proper
Good manners.
Bitter
Very difficult to accept or bear;
The bitter truth
A bitter sorrow
Better
Worthy of respect; honorable
Ruined the family's good name.
Bitter
Harsh or corrosive in tone;
An acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose
A barrage of acid comments
Her acrid remarks make her many enemies
Bitter words
Blistering criticism
Caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics
A sulfurous denunciation
Better
Attractive; handsome
Good looks.
Bitter
One of the four basic taste sensations; sharp and disagreeable; like the taste of quinine
Better
Beneficial to health; salutary
A good night's rest.
Bitter
Expressive of severe grief or regret;
Shed bitter tears
Better
Competent; skilled
A good machinist.
Bitter
Proceeding from or exhibiting great hostility or animosity;
A bitter struggle
Bitter enemies
Better
Complete; thorough
A good workout.
Bitter
Causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold;
Bitter cold
A biting wind
Better
Reliable; sure
A good investment.
Bitter
Extremely and sharply;
It was bitterly cold
Bitter cold
Better
Valid or true
A good reason.
Better
Genuine; real
A good dollar bill.
Better
In effect; operative
A warranty good for two years.
A driver's license that is still good.
Better
Ready or able for a specified or assumed activity
I'm good for another round of golf.
Better
Able to pay or contribute
Is she good for the money that you lent her?.
Better
Able to elicit a specified reaction
He is always good for a laugh.
Better
Ample; substantial
A good income.
Better
Bountiful
A good table.
Better
Full
It is a good mile from here.
Better
Pleasant; enjoyable
Had a good time at the party.
Better
Propitious; favorable
Good weather.
A good omen.
Better
Landing within bounds or within a particular area of a court and therefore in play
The first serve was wide, but the second was good.
Better
Passing between the uprights of the goal and therefore scoring, as a field goal in football.
Better
Used to form exclamatory phrases expressing surprise or dismay
Good heavens! Good grief!.
Better
In a more excellent way
He sings better than his father.
Better
To a greater extent or degree
Better suited to the job.
Likes it better without sauce.
Better
To greater advantage; preferably
A deed better left undone. See Usage Notes at best, have, rather.
Better
More
It took me better than a year to recover.
Better
In a good or proper manner
Behaved well.
Better
Skillfully or proficiently
Dances well.
Better
Satisfactorily or sufficiently
Slept well.
Better
Successfully or effectively
Gets along well with people.
Better
In a comfortable or affluent manner
Lived well.
Better
In a manner affording benefit or gain; advantageously
Married well.
Better
With reason or propriety; reasonably
Can't very well say no.
Better
In all likelihood; indeed
You may well need your umbrella.
Better
In a prudent or sensible manner
You would do well to say nothing more.
Better
In a close or familiar manner
Knew them well.
Better
In a favorable or approving manner
Spoke well of them.
Better
Thoroughly; completely
Well cooked.
Cooked well.
Better
Perfectly; clearly
I well understand your intentions.
Better
To a suitable or appropriate degree
This product will answer your needs equally well.
Better
To a considerable extent or degree
Well over the estimate.
Better
With care or attention
Listened well.
Better
Entirely; fully
Well worth seeing.
Better
Well.
Better
One that is greater in excellence or higher in quality.
Better
Often betters A superior, as in standing, competence, or intelligence
To learn from one's betters.
Better
Variant of bettor.
Better
One that bets or places a bet.
Better
Something that is good.
Better
A good, valuable, or useful part or aspect.
Better
Welfare; benefit
For the common good.
Better
Goodness; virtue
There is much good to be found in people.
Better
A product that is bought and sold
Frozen goods.
Better
Goods Portable personal property.
Better
(used with a sing. or pl. verb) Fabric; material.
Better
Goods(Slang) Incriminating information or evidence
Tried to get the goods on the crook.
Better
To make better; improve
Trying to better conditions in the prison.
Bettered myself by changing jobs.
Better
To surpass or exceed
Practiced so he could better his rival.
Better
To become better
Conditions bettered with time.
Better
Used to introduce a remark, resume a narrative, or fill a pause during conversation.
Better
Used to express surprise.
Better
Comparative of good
Better
Comparative of well
Better
Greater in amount or quantity
Better
Comparative of well
The engine runs better now that I've given it some oil.
Better
Greater or lesser (whichever is seen as more advantageous), in reference to value, distance, time, etc.
The top electric vehicles have a range of 300 kilometres or better. (better = greater)
Only one swimmer finished the race with a time better than two minutes. (better = lesser)
Better
Had better.
You better do that if you know what's good for you.
Better
An entity, usually animate, deemed superior to another; one who has a claim to precedence; a superior.
He quickly found Ali his better in the ring.
Better
Alternative spelling of bettor
Better
Had better.
It's getting late. You better get on home.
Better
(transitive) To improve.
Better
(intransitive) To become better; to improve.
This government will better this society
Better
(transitive) To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
Better
(transitive) To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
Better
Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.
Could make the worse appearThe better reason.
Better
Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness, safety, or in any other respect.
To obey is better than sacrifice.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Better
Greater in amount; larger; more.
Better
Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is better.
Better
More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance; a better knowledge of the subject.
My dear, my better half (said he),I find I must now leave thee.
By all that's holy, he had better starveThan but once think this place becomes thee not.
Better
Advantage, superiority, or victory; - usually with of; as, to get the better of an enemy.
Better
One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social standing, etc.; - usually in the plural.
Their betters would hardly be found.
Better
One who bets or lays a wager.
Better
In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits.
I could have better spared a better man.
Better
More correctly or thoroughly.
The better to understand the extent of our knowledge.
Better
In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than another.
Never was monarch better feared, and loved.
Better
More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten miles and better.
Better
To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.
Love betters what is best.
He thought to better his circumstances.
Better
To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially, socially, or otherwise.
The constant effort of every man to better himself.
Better
To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered.
Better
To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,May serve to better us and worse our foes.
Better
To become better; to improve.
Better
One having claim to precedence; a superior;
The common man has been kept in his place by his betters
Better
Someone who bets
Better
The superior one of two alternatives;
Chose the better of the two
Better
Surpass in excellence;
She bettered her own record
Break a record
Better
To make better;
The editor improved the manuscript with his changes
Better
Get better;
The weather improved toward evening
Better
(comparative of `good') superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another;
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din
A better coat
A better type of car
A suit with a better fit
A better chance of success
Produced a better mousetrap
She's better in math than in history
Better
(comparative of `good') changed for the better in health or fitness;
Her health is better now
I feel better
Better
(comparative and superlative of `well') wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable;
It would be better to speak to him
The White House thought it best not to respond
Better
More than half;
Argued for the better part of an hour
Better
Comparative of `well'; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.;
She had never sung better
A deed better left undone
Better suited to the job
Better
From a position of superiority or authority;
Father knows best
I know better.
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