acerbate
verb
ac·er·bate
ˈa-sər-ˌbāt
acerbated; acerbating; acerbates
1
: to make (something, such as a problem) more violent, bitter, or severe : exacerbate
The high winds acerbate the dry conditions in the fire zone.
2
archaic
: to cause (someone) irritation or annoyance : irritate, exasperate
The poor girl had not spirit sufficient to upbraid her friend; nor did it suit her now to acerbate an enemy.—Anthony Trollope
Cite this Entry
“Acerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acerbate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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