exacerbate

[ig-zas-er-beyt, ek-sas-]

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.

exacerbate

/ ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt, ɪkˈsæs- /

verb

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

2. to exasperate or irritate (a person)

Other Word Forms

• exacerbatingly adverb
• exacerbation noun
• unexacerbating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exacerbate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of exacerbate¹

C17: from Latin exacerbāre to irritate, from acerbus bitter

Example Sentences

Commodities were already inflationary, and tariffs are exacerbating this.

Read more on Barron's

In 2021, homes valued at a total of $1.6 trillion were uninsured, according to data from the Consumer Federation of America, a figure that’s expected to grow due to skyrocketing premiums exacerbated by climate change.

Read more on MarketWatch

“Overall,” they wrote, “the results imply that corporate tax cuts improve aggregate efficiency but exacerbate inequality.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

That has helped AI produce better answers—and exacerbated AI’s resource needs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They were also the scene during the Covid pandemic of massive containership backups that were exacerbated by a lack of modern equipment.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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