I looked up bitter in the dictionary but this word is difficult to understand in the following context:
Why the bitter arguments and heated discussions around Scotland's independence referendum might actually be a good thing.
(Source: CBC Radio)
What does bitter mean here? Is there any difference between bitter arguments and heated discussions?
Best Answer
Here bitter is used for acrimonious -
: bitterness, anger, rancor, resentment, ill feeling, ill will, bad blood, animosity, hostility, enmity, antagonism, waspishness, spleen, malice, spite, spitefulness, peevishness, venom, etc.
A "heated discussion" may not have the rancor, but it certainly has lots of passionate arguments.