acerbate

verb

ac·​er·​bate ˈa-sər-ˌbāt 

acerbated; acerbating

transitive verb

: irritate, exasperate

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin acerbātus, past participle of acerbāre "to make bitter or disagreeable, worsen, aggravate," verbal derivative of acerbus "sour, bitter, grievous" — more at acerb

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for acerbate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate