Embitter

/ɪmˈbɪtə/ · verb

Meaning

(archaic) To cause (something) to be or taste bitter; to bitter..

Definitions by Sense

1. (archaic) To cause (something) to be or taste bitter; to bitter.
2. To cause (a positive quality such as happiness, or a thing such as an activity or one's life) to become less good or pleasurable; also, to make (a negative quality, or thing such as a disagreement) worse or more unpleasant.
3. To cause (someone or their feelings) to become more angry, resentful, or unfriendly; to envenom.

Example Sentences

He imbitters not a diſtaſtfull meſſage to a forrein Prince by his indiſcretion in delivering it.

[I]t is our fond conceits, our froward humors, our perverse behaviors, which do create the trouble, which seemeth adherent to any condition, and embittereth every state; which from any slight occasion doth create vexation, and turneth every event into disaster.

The Proſpect of Death is ſo gloomy and diſmal, that if it vvere conſtantly before our Eyes, it vvould imbitter all the Svveets of Life.

Their pleaſures, poor as they vvere, could not be preſerved pure, but vvere embittered by petty competitions and vvorthleſs emulation.

A juſt, but melancholy reflection, embittered, hovvever, the nobleſt of human enjoyments.

[T]hat monſtrous fiction, vvhich, by inſpiring falſe ideas and vain expectations into men deſtined to travel in the obſcure vvalk of laborious life, ſerves only to aggravate and imbitter that real inequality, vvhich it never can remove; […]

Thou offendest, thou injurest not God, indeed, when thou sinnest, o man, but thou offendest, thou injurest thyself; […] Thou embitterest to thyself the enjoyment of a thousand innocent pleasures, and bereavest thyself of the noblest, the purest joys.

Two circumstances only had embittered their union, which was otherwise as happy as mutual affection could render it.

Synonyms for embitter

Antonyms for embitter

Related Words

Word Forms

• embitters
• embittering
• embittered
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• embitter
• embitterest
• embitteredst
• embittereth
• -
• imbitter

Usage Notes

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