fierce / embittered
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fierce
Describes a fight, dispute, or hostility that is carried out with great hatred, anger, and irreconcilability.
Die beiden Parteien führten einen erbitterten Streit vor Gericht.
The two parties conducted a fierce dispute in court.
embittered
Filled with anger and bitterness, often as a reaction to an injustice or conflict.
Erbittert über die falsche Anschuldigung, verließ er den Raum.
Embittered by the false accusation, he left the room.
The word is derived from 'bitter' (bitter). The prefix 'er-' often expresses that a state is reached. So 'erbittert' (fierce/embittered) means that someone or something has been 'made bitter' by a conflict or injustice.
Die Erfahrung hat ihn zu einem erbitterten Mann gemacht.
The experience turned him into an embittered man.
You can recognize the meaning from the word it refers to. If 'erbittert' (fierce/embittered) describes a conflict, e.g. 'Kampf' (fight) or 'Streit' (dispute), it is about the intensity of the confrontation. If it refers to a person, it describes that person's hurt and angry feeling.
Die Nachbarn führten einen erbitterten Kampf um den Gartenzaun.
The neighbors fought a fierce battle over the garden fence.
When it describes a confrontation, 'erbittert' (fierce) often stands before nouns that refer to a conflict. Common combinations are 'ein erbitterter Kampf' (a fierce battle), 'eine erbitterte Debatte' (a fierce debate), or 'erbitterte Feinde' (bitter enemies).
Es kam zu einer erbitterten Auseinandersetzung zwischen den Politikern.
A fierce confrontation broke out between the politicians.
When a person is 'erbittert' (embittered), the reason is often given with the preposition 'über' and the accusative. The structure is therefore: 'Person + sein + erbittert über + reason'.
Sie war erbittert über die ungerechte Behandlung.
She was embittered by the unfair treatment.
dogged / grim
Erbittert and verbissen can both describe a very hard-fought struggle. Erbittert emphasizes hatred, anger, and irreconcilability between the opponents. Verbissen, by contrast, highlights the stubborn, tense determination with which someone pursues their goal.
Die beiden Gruppen führten aus tiefem Hass einen erbitterten Kampf.
The two groups waged a bitter fight out of deep hatred.
Die beiden Mannschaften kämpften verbissen um den letzten Platz im Finale.
The two teams fought doggedly for the last place in the final.
