exacerbate

American  

[ig-zas-er-beyt, ek-sas-] / ɪgˈzæs ərˌbeɪt, ɛkˈsæs- /

verb (used with object)

exacerbated, exacerbating

1. to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.

   Synonyms:

   worsen, inflame, intensify, intensify

   Antonyms:

   alleviate, soothe, soothe, relieve

2. to embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate.

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exacerbate British  

/ ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt, ɪkˈsæs- /

verb

1. to make (pain, disease, emotion, etc) more intense; aggravate

2. to exasperate or irritate (a person)

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Other Word Forms

• exacerbatingly adverb
• exacerbation noun
• unexacerbating adjective

Etymology

Origin of exacerbate

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin exacerbātus (past participle of exacerbāre “to exasperate, provoke”), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + acerbātus acerbate

Compare meaning

How does exacerbate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• exasperate vs. exacerbate

Example Sentences

Not only that, many refrigerants produce highly potent greenhouse gases, which threaten to exacerbate climate change.

From BBC

That wouldn’t prevent “carbon leakage”—the relocation of industrial activity to avoid regulation—but exacerbate it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Cronin said earlier in the week that Booker sprained his ankle in practice, an injury the big man appeared to exacerbate against Arizona State on Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

One of the traders who spoke with MarketWatch said the fact that Friday was a major options expiration could have exacerbated the volatility.

From MarketWatch

These failures exist in a loop too, exacerbating the problem.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aggravate
• annoy
• heighten
• inflame
• intensify
• irritate
• provoke
• worsen