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

• exacerbation noun
• exacerbatingly adverb
• 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

But the flooding that hit Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia was also exacerbated by a rare tropical storm that dumped heavy rain on Sumatra island in particular.

Read more on Barron's

A tropical storm has exacerbated conditions, and the tolls in Indonesia and Thailand rank among the highest in floods in those countries in recent years.

Read more on Barron's

Monsoon rain exacerbated by tropical storms caused some of the region's worst flooding in years, with millions affected in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Read more on BBC

Carvalho said fears in immigrant communities “are now exacerbating preexisting factors that were already driving statewide enrollment declines — including falling birth rates, rising housing costs and broader economic pressures.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Kennedy is absolutely right that this system needs reform — but his prescriptions aren’t well-informed by evidence and seem poised to exacerbate the problem.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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