Acerbating: meaning, definitions and examples
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acerbating
[ əˈsɜː.bə.teɪ.tɪŋ ]
making worse
Acerbating refers to the action of making a situation or feeling more severe or intense. It often implies exacerbating a problem or condition, leading to greater discomfort or difficulty.
Synonyms
aggravating, exacerbating, intensifying.
Examples of usage
- His comments were acerbating the tension in the room.
- The new policies are acerbating the issue of unemployment.
- Ignoring the problem will only acerbate the situation.
- Her harsh words effectively acerbated their already fragile relationship.
Translations
Translations of the word "acerbating" in other languages:
🇵🇹 agravante
🇮🇳 कड़वा
🇩🇪 verschärfend
🇮🇩 memperburuk
🇺🇦 погіршуючий
🇵🇱 zaostrzający
🇯🇵 悪化させる
🇫🇷 aggravant
🇪🇸 agravante
🇹🇷 kötüleştiren
🇰🇷 악화시키는
🇸🇦 مُعَزِّز
🇨🇿 zhoršující
🇸🇰 zhoršujúci
🇨🇳 加重的
🇸🇮 poslabšanje
🇮🇸 verkjandi
🇰🇿 Нашарлататын
🇬🇪 გართულება
🇦🇿 pisləşdirici
🇲🇽 agravante
Etymology
The word 'acerbate' derives from the Latin root 'acerbus', meaning 'harsh' or 'bitter'. The prefix 'a-' indicates a directional aspect, suggesting the idea of making something harsher or more intense. The transformation from Latin to Middle English saw the adaptation of the term into various forms, with influences from Old French and the evolution of English in the late medieval period. The use of the term grew in popularity in the 19th century, particularly in literary contexts, as authors sought to convey the complexities of human emotion and conflict. Over time, 'acerbate' shifted from a less common verb to a more recognized term in discussions about emotional dynamics and problematic situations. Today, it’s commonly used in both formal and informal settings to describe the act of worsening or intensifying challenges.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #43,606, 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.