Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

bittersweet memories

phrase

/ˈbɪtərˌswit ˈmɛməriz/

Definition

Bittersweet memories refer to recollections that evoke both pleasure and sadness simultaneously.

Examples

Returning to her childhood home filled her with bittersweet memories of her family gatherings.
He smiled as he looked through the old photos, each one carrying a bittersweet memory of high school days gone by.
The song brought back bittersweet memories of their summer romance.

Meaning

The phrase captures the complexity of nostalgia, where one feels joy from recalling a happy moment while also feeling sorrow due to its impermanence or the fact that those times are past.