Acerbate: meaning, definitions and examples

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acerbate

 

[ ˈæs.ər.beɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

to make worse

To acerbate means to make a situation or feeling more aggravating or severe. It is often used in contexts where emotions, tensions, or conditions are heightened due to unforeseen circumstances or actions. When one acerbate's a situation, they intensify the issues involved rather than resolve them. In relationships, for example, an individual might acerbate conflicts by introducing blame or anger instead of seeking a peaceful solution.

Synonyms

aggravate, exacerbate, intensify

Examples of usage

  • His comments only served to acerbate the disagreement.
  • The new policy will likely acerbate the current challenges faced by the team.
  • She didn't mean to acerbate the situation, but her words struck a nerve.

Translations

Translations of the word "acerbate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 acerbar

🇮🇳 खराब करना

🇩🇪 verschärfen

🇮🇩 memperburuk

🇺🇦 погіршувати

🇵🇱 pogarszać

🇯🇵 悪化させる

🇫🇷 aggraver

🇪🇸 agudizar

🇹🇷 kötüleştirmek

🇰🇷 악화시키다

🇸🇦 تفاقم

🇨🇿 zhoršit

🇸🇰 zhoršiť

🇨🇳 加剧

🇸🇮 poslabšati

🇮🇸 versna

🇰🇿 қиындату

🇬🇪 გაუარესი

🇦🇿 pisləşdirmək

🇲🇽 agudizar

Etymology

The word 'acerbate' originates from the Latin 'acerbatus', the past participle of 'acerbare', which means 'to make sour, bitter, or harsh'. The Latin root 'acerbus' translates to 'sour, bitter, or harsh', indicating a worsening of situations or feelings. The term has evolved in usage through Middle French before entering the English lexicon. First recorded in the English language in the early 19th century, 'acerbate' is now most commonly used in emotional or situational contexts, whether in everyday conversation or academic discussions, to describe the act of exacerbating issues.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #43,221, this word is among the least frequently used in common English. Understanding it can be beneficial for comprehensive language mastery, but it's not essential for most learners.