exacerbate

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

/ ɪgˈzæs ərˌbeɪt, ɛkˈsæs- /

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verb (used with object), ex·ac·er·bat·ed, ex·ac·er·bat·ing.

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

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

Nearby words

Origin of exacerbate

1650–60; < Latin exacerbātus (past participle of exacerbāre to exasperate, provoke), equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + acerbātus acerbate

SYNONYMS FOR exacerbate

1 intensify, inflame, worsen.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR exacerbate ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR exacerbate

1 relieve, soothe, alleviate.

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Related formsex·ac·er·bat·ing·ly, adverbex·ac·er·ba·tion, nounun·ex·ac·er·bat·ed, adjectiveun·ex·ac·er·bat·ing, adjective

Can be confusedexacerbate exasperate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for exacerbated

The panic is exacerbated when those still working presumably safely in the affected areas are worried, too.
Ebola-Fueled Racism Is on the Rise in Europe|Barbie Latza Nadeau|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As with the drug trade, much of the violence associated with sex work is exacerbated by its illegality.
Why It's Time to Legalize Prostitution|Cathy Reisenwitz|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This was exacerbated by two years in Turkey where he says, “the only option is to live underground and survive.”
A Maple Syrup Mecca for Iran’s Gays|Nina Strochlic|August 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The problem has been exacerbated as programs become fewer and larger.
Why the World’s Armies Don’t Want U.S. Tech Anymore|Bill Sweetman|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But Cantor also exacerbated things by failing at attempts to play internal politics within the Republican Party of Virginia.
How Eric Cantor Sabotaged Himself|Ben Jacobs, Tim Mak|June 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And by reason of his exacerbated temper he became the most personal writer of his generation.
Egoists|James Huneker
The scene of the night before, which ought to have exacerbated his senses, produced exactly the opposite effect.
L-bas|J. K. Huysmans
The pains are not exacerbated at night, but, on the contrary, are often more severe by day.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II|Various
It exacerbated the feelings of the nation's largest minority toward the Army and multiplied demands for change.
Integration of the Armed Forces, 1940-1965|Morris J. MacGregor, Jr.
What exacerbated his feeling about Mrs. Harrowdean was a new line she had recently taken with regard to Mrs. Britling.
Mr. Britling Sees It Through|H. G. Wells

British Dictionary definitions for exacerbated

exacerbate

/ (ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt, ɪkˈsæs-) /

verb (tr)

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

to exasperate or irritate (a person)

Derived Formsexacerbation, noun

Word Origin for exacerbate

C17: from Latin exacerbāre to irritate, from acerbus bitter

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for exacerbated

exacerbate

1650s, a back-formation from exacerbation or else from Latin exacerbatus, past participle of exacerbare (see exacerbation). Related: Exacerbated; exacerbating.