Bittersweet
adjective
Having both joy and sadness at the same time.
Graduation was a bittersweet experience. It was happy because it marks the end of a stage in life, but sad because students will say goodbye to friends and teachers.
Often appears as...
- bittersweet experience
- bittersweet moment
noun
A type of plant that is both sweet and bitter.
The bittersweet vine produced beautiful red berries.
Often appears as...
- bittersweet vine
- bittersweet berries
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A type of chocolate that is not very sweet.
The dessert chef suggested using bittersweet chocolate for the cake to balance the sweetness.
Often appears as...
- bittersweet chocolate
- bittersweet cake
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Having both joy and sadness at the same time.
Graduation was a bittersweet experience. It was happy because it marks the end of a stage in life, but sad because students will say goodbye to friends and teachers.
Often appears as...
- bittersweet experience
- bittersweet moment
noun
A type of plant that is both sweet and bitter.
The bittersweet vine produced beautiful red berries.
Often appears as...
- bittersweet vine
- bittersweet berries
Usage tips
Technical
noun
A type of chocolate that is not very sweet.
The dessert chef suggested using bittersweet chocolate for the cake to balance the sweetness.
Often appears as...
- bittersweet chocolate
- bittersweet cake
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Complexity
Reflects feelings of happiness and sadness mixed together in a complex way.
Her farewell was bittersweet, joyful for the new opportunities but sad for the parting.
Pro Tip 2/3Transition Phases
Often used when talking about life transitions that are both positive and hard.
Leaving home for university has a bittersweet quality.
Pro Tip 3/3Reflective Mood
Suggests a mood of reflecting on the past with both fondness and a touch of sorrow.
Seeing old photos can stir up bittersweet memories.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Complexity
Reflects feelings of happiness and sadness mixed together in a complex way.
Her farewell was bittersweet, joyful for the new opportunities but sad for the parting.
Pro Tip 2/3Transition Phases
Often used when talking about life transitions that are both positive and hard.
Leaving home for university has a bittersweet quality.
Pro Tip 3/3Reflective Mood
Suggests a mood of reflecting on the past with both fondness and a touch of sorrow.
Seeing old photos can stir up bittersweet memories.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Complexity
Reflects feelings of happiness and sadness mixed together in a complex way.
Her farewell was bittersweet, joyful for the new opportunities but sad for the parting.
Pro Tip 2/3Transition Phases
Often used when talking about life transitions that are both positive and hard.
Leaving home for university has a bittersweet quality.
Pro Tip 3/3Reflective Mood
Suggests a mood of reflecting on the past with both fondness and a touch of sorrow.
Seeing old photos can stir up bittersweet memories.
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Video examples
Safari Live - Day 210 PIPE...
hassanis haunt and that's where he's kind of hitting now seeing hasana today is I suppose in many respects quite bittersweet and I'll tell you that wine shortly because a year ago today it was a day very similar to this the sun was shining it was a bit cold actually I
Video examples
Watch Thousands of Dogs...
the bittersweet part of letting go the bitter part is gone it's like I'm trusting this person with what I think this dog wants and I think they all want homes it's not how many times you're happy it's how deeply happy you can be
Video examples
Behind the Scenes:...
adventure of cosmos I can only describe it as being somewhat bittersweet I missed Carl I really felt his absence but I also realized my great good fortune in being able to bring a new generation of viewers on this great journey
Video examples
Heribert Watzke: The...
And two tastes which protect you -- bitter and sour, which are against poisonous and rotten material. But of course, they are hard-wired but we use them still in a sophisticated way. Think about bittersweet chocolate;
Video examples
The myth of Hades and...
the humans stored their crops, stoked their fires, and awaited Persephone’s safe return. And so it was that her transit marked the gradual turning of the seasons and the bittersweet compromise between life and death.
Video examples
Can you solve the Big...
or the immediate right of final antiparticles means you’ll reach this endgame state and survive. So here are the safe spots in all three given circles. You find a good position and experience the bittersweet radiance
Video examples
360° Orangutan School PIPE...
consider that they are ready to be released into the world and then they are taken to the forest to be released and every time that you rescued orangutans is a bittersweet feeling because you feel good that you have
Video examples
Ricardo Semler: Radical...
But of course, we all know these are very bittersweet memories we're going to have. It's very difficult to do. You spend a good part of the time crying, probably. So I said, I'm going to do something else.
Video examples
The Hidden Power of Sad...
some friends came by my dorm room to pick me up on the way to class. And I had been sitting and listening to bittersweet music, which is something I've been doing all my life.
Video examples
Bullfighting PIPE National...
with honor is still bittersweet another day in the ring another contest between life and death
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 210 PIPE...
hassanis haunt and that's where he's kind of hitting now seeing hasana today is I suppose in many respects quite bittersweet and I'll tell you that wine shortly because a year ago today it was a day very similar to this the sun was shining it was a bit cold actually I
Video examples
Watch Thousands of Dogs...
the bittersweet part of letting go the bitter part is gone it's like I'm trusting this person with what I think this dog wants and I think they all want homes it's not how many times you're happy it's how deeply happy you can be
Video examples
Behind the Scenes:...
adventure of cosmos I can only describe it as being somewhat bittersweet I missed Carl I really felt his absence but I also realized my great good fortune in being able to bring a new generation of viewers on this great journey
Video examples
Heribert Watzke: The...
And two tastes which protect you -- bitter and sour, which are against poisonous and rotten material. But of course, they are hard-wired but we use them still in a sophisticated way. Think about bittersweet chocolate;
Video examples
The myth of Hades and...
the humans stored their crops, stoked their fires, and awaited Persephone’s safe return. And so it was that her transit marked the gradual turning of the seasons and the bittersweet compromise between life and death.
Video examples
Can you solve the Big...
or the immediate right of final antiparticles means you’ll reach this endgame state and survive. So here are the safe spots in all three given circles. You find a good position and experience the bittersweet radiance
Video examples
360° Orangutan School PIPE...
consider that they are ready to be released into the world and then they are taken to the forest to be released and every time that you rescued orangutans is a bittersweet feeling because you feel good that you have
Video examples
Ricardo Semler: Radical...
But of course, we all know these are very bittersweet memories we're going to have. It's very difficult to do. You spend a good part of the time crying, probably. So I said, I'm going to do something else.
Video examples
The Hidden Power of Sad...
some friends came by my dorm room to pick me up on the way to class. And I had been sitting and listening to bittersweet music, which is something I've been doing all my life.
Video examples
Bullfighting PIPE National...
with honor is still bittersweet another day in the ring another contest between life and death
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Perfume Genius
American Musician
I saw this Facebook video of a boy, probably around seven, wearing a dress he had fashioned from a blanket, sashaying through his house while his mother applauded and cheered him on. He was so proud. It was such a beautiful thing but bittersweet because I knew his spirit would change soon: that he'd become self-aware and ashamed at some level.
Quote examples
Marie Lu
American Author
On the one hand, I'm so relieved that I've actually managed to finish my very first series and that I've been able to see my characters through to the end of their journeys. On the other hand, I feel like how parents must feel when they send their kid off to college. It's a bittersweet mix.
Quote examples
Colin Kaepernick
American Athlete
To me, when people say, 'Oh, you're a freak athlete,' it's bittersweet. It's a huge compliment to say, 'O.K., you have physical abilities that are kind of above and beyond.' But at the same time, I feel like it diminishes the mental side of the game.
Quote examples
Katie Melua
Georgian Musician
My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast. It was very bittersweet when we said goodbye to our relatives, and I remember crying my eyes out at the airport.
Quote examples
Simon Helberg
American Actor
When you see someone putting themselves out there, particularly when you see someone is failing and failing so passionately, it brings up this bittersweet connection to our mortality.
Quote examples
Ryan Mason
Every match I watch will be bittersweet. It will always hurt, I'll always miss competing. That's what I've done my whole life and that burning desire is not just going to leave me.
Quote examples
Will Smith
American Actor
It's quite highly possible that I have peaked. I mean, I just can't imagine what else I could do beyond this. It's really a bittersweet kind of feeling.
Quote examples
Jennifer Morrison
American Actress
In life, there are those relationships where you really love someone, but they're just not right for you and there's a little bittersweet feel to it.
Quote examples
Ani DiFranco
American Musician
Having more exposure is kind of a bittersweet thing for me, honestly, because it's nice to have a little more job security in life now.
Quote examples
Jack Kirby
American Cartoonist
Life at best is bittersweet.
Quote examples
Perfume Genius
American Musician
I saw this Facebook video of a boy, probably around seven, wearing a dress he had fashioned from a blanket, sashaying through his house while his mother applauded and cheered him on. He was so proud. It was such a beautiful thing but bittersweet because I knew his spirit would change soon: that he'd become self-aware and ashamed at some level.
Quote examples
Marie Lu
American Author
On the one hand, I'm so relieved that I've actually managed to finish my very first series and that I've been able to see my characters through to the end of their journeys. On the other hand, I feel like how parents must feel when they send their kid off to college. It's a bittersweet mix.
Quote examples
Colin Kaepernick
American Athlete
To me, when people say, 'Oh, you're a freak athlete,' it's bittersweet. It's a huge compliment to say, 'O.K., you have physical abilities that are kind of above and beyond.' But at the same time, I feel like it diminishes the mental side of the game.
Quote examples
Katie Melua
Georgian Musician
My father longed for a better life for us, and when I was nine he got a job as a heart surgeon in Belfast. It was very bittersweet when we said goodbye to our relatives, and I remember crying my eyes out at the airport.
Quote examples
Simon Helberg
American Actor
When you see someone putting themselves out there, particularly when you see someone is failing and failing so passionately, it brings up this bittersweet connection to our mortality.
Quote examples
Ryan Mason
Every match I watch will be bittersweet. It will always hurt, I'll always miss competing. That's what I've done my whole life and that burning desire is not just going to leave me.
Quote examples
Will Smith
American Actor
It's quite highly possible that I have peaked. I mean, I just can't imagine what else I could do beyond this. It's really a bittersweet kind of feeling.
Quote examples
Jennifer Morrison
American Actress
In life, there are those relationships where you really love someone, but they're just not right for you and there's a little bittersweet feel to it.
Quote examples
Ani DiFranco
American Musician
Having more exposure is kind of a bittersweet thing for me, honestly, because it's nice to have a little more job security in life now.
Quote examples
Jack Kirby
American Cartoonist
Life at best is bittersweet.
Example 1 of 10
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