What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
salty
Example
The soup was too salty for my taste. [salty: adjective]
Example
He has a salty tongue and often offends people. [salty: adjective]
Example
The salty air at the beach made me feel refreshed. [salty: adjective]
bitter
Example
The medicine had a bitter taste that lingered in my mouth. [bitter: adjective]
Example
She felt bitter towards her ex-husband after the divorce. [bitter: adjective]
Example
Losing the game was a bitter pill to swallow. [bitter: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bitter is more commonly used than salty in everyday language. Bitter is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while salty is less common and refers to a specific taste or behavior.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between salty and bitter?
Both salty and bitter can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but salty is more informal when used to describe language or behavior.