bitter pill

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These demands would be a bitter pill for Washington and its Gulf Arab allies to swallow.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The Japanese considered the emperor to be divine, and a surrender was to admit his fallibility—a very bitter pill to swallow.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

For USC, it was an especially bitter pill to swallow, considering how well things had started.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

Liam Rosenior said Chelsea's failure to stay calm under pressure was a "bitter pill" as they blew a two-goal advantage in their 2-2 draw with Leeds on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

But even among poor whites, the collapse of slavery was a bitter pill.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander