to become embittered / to embitter
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to become embittered
To become inwardly hard, cynical, and hostile toward people because of disappointments, injustice, or suffering.
Nach dem Verlust seines Arbeitsplatzes verbitterte er zusehends.
After losing his job, he became increasingly embittered.
The verb consists of the inseparable prefix 'ver-' and the adjective 'bitter' (bitter). The prefix 'ver-' describes a change of state here. 'Verbittern' (to become embittered / to embitter) therefore means to become bitter or to make someone bitter.
Lass dich von dieser Niederlage nicht verbittern!
Don't let this defeat embitter you!
The verb can be used intransitively to say that a person becomes embittered ('Er verbittert' — he becomes embittered). But it can also be used transitively with an accusative object to say that something embitters a person ('Die Erfahrung verbitterte ihn' — the experience embittered him).
Nach all den Jahren in Einsamkeit verbitterte er.
After all those years of loneliness, he became embittered.
The past participle 'verbittert' (embittered) is very often used as an adjective to describe the character of a person who has become hard and cynical through negative experiences.
Er ist ein alter, verbitterter Mann geworden.
He has become an old, embittered man.
To state the reason for the bitterness, the preposition 'durch' (through/by) or 'über' (about/over) + accusative is often used.
Sie ist durch die Ungerechtigkeit, die sie erlebt hat, verbittert.
She is embittered by the injustice she experienced.
to injure / hurt / violate
'verletzen' and 'verbittern' can both arise from bad experiences or hurtful experiences. 'verletzen' describes a single emotional hurt: someone says or does something, and a person feels hurt. 'verbittern' describes more of a longer inner change. Through many disappointments or great suffering, someone becomes hard, cynical, and unhappy. The words can be confused because being hurt can lead to embitterment. But 'verletzen' is often the moment, while 'verbittern' is more the lasting consequence.
Die vielen Enttäuschungen haben ihn mit der Zeit verbittert.
The many disappointments embittered him over time.
Im Gespräch hat sie ihre Kollegin mit einem unfairen Satz verletzt.
During the conversation, she hurt her colleague with an unfair remark.