hold bitterness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hold bitterness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of maintaining feelings of resentment or anger towards someone or something. Example: "Despite the years that have passed, she continues to hold bitterness towards her former colleague for the betrayal."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I don't hold any bitterness towards him [Skiverton]," Roberts says.

The Guardian - Sport

Despite such gloomy forecasts, Tyler Southern, like many of the most seriously wounded warriors I've met, doesn't hold any bitterness about what happened.

Huffington Post

He said he held no bitterness toward Kentucky or Sutton.

The New York Times - Sports

She holds no bitterness and dedicated her triumph "to those who believed in me and those who didn't".

The New York Times - Sports

Constantin holds some bitterness inside, and this he displays in his behavior toward Elizabeth whom he knows is in love with him.

The New Yorker

Ward said Wednesday that he held no bitterness toward the Knicks, who dealt him to Phoenix in the STEPHON MARBURY trade after nine years with the club.

The New York Times - Sports

He insisted he held no bitterness or animosity towards Israelis as individuals – for who they are – only for what he said Israeli policies had done to Palestinians.

The Guardian

The quarterback himself has insisted he holds "no bitterness at all" towards the 49ers for ditching him in favour of Colin Kaepernick two years ago.

The Guardian - Sport

Gooden admitted that he held some bitterness as a result of the incident "because nobody wants to go through this". But he said he holds no grudge against Tampa, where he was born and raised.

The New York Times - Sports

Sober for nine months now, he said that he held no bitterness toward others for his predicament and that all he is owed is a chance to make a fresh start.

The New York Times

The grief that so many felt at Senator Kerry's defeat was quite unexpected, and profound enough that, for the moment at least, it held off bitterness and recrimination.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about personal experiences, use "hold bitterness" to accurately convey feelings of resentment, ensuring emotional honesty and depth in your narrative.

Common error

While "hold bitterness" is grammatically sound, avoid overuse in formal writing. Opt for synonyms like "harbor resentment" or "retain animosity" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hold bitterness" functions as a verb phrase where "hold" acts as a transitive verb taking "bitterness" as its direct object. It describes the act of maintaining or harboring feelings of resentment.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hold bitterness" is a grammatically correct way to describe harboring resentment, according to Ludwig AI. While no direct examples were found in the search results, it is understood and usable in English. It's suitable for general contexts but may benefit from more formal alternatives like "harbor resentment" in professional settings. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately conveys sustained negative feelings and consider the audience to determine the most appropriate tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harbor resentment

Replaces "hold" with "harbor", emphasizing the act of secretly nurturing resentment.

nurse a grudge

Emphasizes the prolonged and careful maintenance of a feeling of resentment.

retain animosity

Uses a more formal term, "animosity", to describe the feeling of strong dislike or hostility.

bear a grudge

Emphasizes the act of carrying or bearing the weight of resentment.

cling to resentment

Highlights the act of holding on tightly to feelings of resentment.

foster ill will

Focuses on nurturing and encouraging feelings of animosity.

sustain resentment

Implies continuously maintaining feelings of resentment over time.

maintain animosity

Suggests keeping animosity at a constant level.

nurture resentment

Implies actively feeding and growing feelings of resentment.

feed bitterness

Focuses on actively fueling and increasing feelings of bitterness.

FAQs

How can I use "hold bitterness" in a sentence?

You can use "hold bitterness" to describe someone feeling resentment or anger. For example: "Despite the apology, she continued to hold bitterness toward him."

What's a more formal way to say "hold bitterness"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "harbor resentment" or "retain animosity".

Is it always negative to "hold bitterness"?

Yes, "hold bitterness" generally implies negative emotions related to resentment, anger, or disappointment. It describes a state of unresolved negative feelings.

What's the difference between "hold bitterness" and "express bitterness"?

"Hold bitterness" refers to internally maintaining feelings of resentment, while "express bitterness" involves outwardly showing or communicating those feelings.