exacerbate
[ ig-zas-er-beyt, ek-sas- ]
/ ɪgˈzæs ərˌbeɪt, ɛkˈsæs- /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!
In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”
Question 1 of 7
The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.
Origin of exacerbate
OTHER WORDS FROM exacerbate
ex·ac·er·bat·ing·ly, adverbex·ac·er·ba·tion, nounun·ex·ac·er·bat·ed, adjectiveun·ex·ac·er·bat·ing, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exacerbate
exacerbate , exasperateDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for exacerbate
Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative?
What Is “GOP” Short For?
What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”?
“Vaccinate” vs. “Inoculate” vs. “Immunize”: What Are The Differences?
“Effectiveness” vs. “Efficacy” vs. “Efficiency”: When To Use Each Word For The Best Results
Where Does The Name “Saturday” Come From?
British Dictionary definitions for exacerbate
exacerbate
/ (ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt, ɪkˈsæs-) /
verb (tr)
to make (pain, disease, emotion, etc) more intense; aggravate
to exasperate or irritate (a person)
Derived forms of exacerbate
exacerbation, nounWord 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