Basic Details
Word: Embitter
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To make someone feel angry, hurt, or resentful.
Synonyms: Infuriate, anger, irritate
Antonyms: Soothe, calm, appease
Idioms and Phrases
- Bitterness is a poison: This phrase means that holding onto anger or hurt can negatively affect your life. Example: "She realised that her bitterness was a poison, so she decided to forgive and move on."
- Don't let it embitter you: A reminder not to let negative experiences make you angry or resentful. Example: "He knew he had faced many challenges, but he promised himself, 'I won't let it embitter me.'"
Usage Examples
Example 1: Losing the game embittered him, and he struggled to enjoy sports again.
Example 2: The unfair treatment at school embittered her, making it hard for her to trust others.
Example 3: He realised that holding onto hate would only embitter his life, so he chose to forgive.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the word "embitter" has roots in Old English, where "bitter" referred to a sharp and unpleasant taste? It evolved to mean creating feelings of resentment, similar to the experience of tasting something unpalatable.
Famous Quote
"Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." - Buddha
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "embitter" mean?
a) To make someone happy
b) To make someone feel angry or resentful
c) To make someone laugh
d) To make someone sleepy
Answer: b) To make someone feel angry or resentful
2. Which of these is a synonym of "embitter"?
a) Calm
b) Infuriate
c) Soothe
d) Please
Answer: b) Infuriate
3. Which is an antonym of "embitter"?
a) Anger
b) Irritate
c) Soothe
d) Infuriate
Answer: c) Soothe
4. Which sentence uses "embitter" correctly?
a) She felt embittered by the kind words of her friend.
b) The challenge did not embitter him; instead, he enjoyed it.
c) He allowed the criticism to embitter his passion for painting.
d) Their generosity seemed to embitter her even more.
Answer: c) He allowed the criticism to embitter his passion for painting.
5. Which idiom suggests avoiding becoming embittered?
a) Bitterness is a poison
b) Live and let live
c) A penny for your thoughts
d) Break the ice
Answer: a) Bitterness is a poison
