acerbate

[ verb as-er-beyt; adjective uh-sur-bit ]
/ verb ˈæs ərˌbeɪt; adjective əˈsɜr bɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR acerbate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ac·er·bat·ed, ac·er·bat·ing.

to make sour or bitter.
to exasperate.

adjective

embittered.

Origin of acerbate

1725–35; < Latin acerbātus, past participle of acerbāre to make bitter. See acerbic, -ate1

Words nearby acerbate

acequia, acer, aceramic, acerate, acerb, acerbate, acerbic, acerbity, acerola, acerose, acerous

Words related to acerbate

annoy, aggravate, disturb, provoke, perturb

Example sentences from the Web for acerbate

  • The poor girl had not spirit sufficient to upbraid her friend; nor did it suit her now to acerbate an enemy.

    The Way We Live Now |Anthony Trollope

  • Lady Laura had triumphed; but she had no desire to acerbate her husband by any unpalatable allusion to her victory.

    Phineas Finn |Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for acerbate

acerbate
/ (ˈæsəˌbeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to embitter or exasperate
to make sour or bitter

Word Origin for acerbate

C18: from Latin acerbātus, past participle of acerbāre to make sour