exacerbated

American  

[ig-zas-er-bey-tid, ek-sas-] / ɪgˈzæs ərˌbeɪ tɪd, ɛkˈsæs- /

adjective

1. made worse, more severe, or more bitter; aggravated.

   The Economic Policy Institute recently released a study showing evidence of an exacerbated income gap between rich and poor.

2. feeling or showing embitterment, irritation, or exasperation.

   With an exacerbated huff, the gunslinger hauled a second revolver from his shoulder, training its barrel on the captain.

---

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of exacerbate.

Other Word Forms

• unexacerbated adjective

Etymology

Origin of exacerbated

exacerbate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

The D line was closed for more than two months last year for construction under Wilshire Boulevard, contributing to a 13.5% drop in ridership that was exacerbated by immigration raids in the area.

From Los Angeles Times

The move has further exacerbated the already crippling oil and fuel shortages Cuba has been suffering for years.

From BBC

The selloff may have been exacerbated by a domino effect of investors trying to front-run selling their shares, in Gastwirth’s opinion.

From MarketWatch

This is exacerbated by the fact Aston's first in-house gearbox - they have bought them in previously - is not communicating with the engine properly, and keeps behaving oddly, making life even more difficult for the drivers.

From BBC

This has exacerbated market worries about Japan's Godzilla-sized debts, with yields on long-dated government bonds hitting record highs last month.

From Barron's