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.

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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

Touring companies and venues have faced increased costs and decreased income, while existing challenges have been "accelerated and exacerbated by the pandemic and funding austerity", it said.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“Many impacted residents have taken no action to rebuild because they lack the capital to move forward — an issue exacerbated by delayed insurance payouts.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Conflict in the Middle East, as well as recent signs of a weakening labor market, have only exacerbated those concerns.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

There are examples in history when contractionary monetary and fiscal policy exacerbated recessions already under way.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Fierce winters helped drive the Vikings from Greenland and led to bad harvests that exacerbated social tensions in continental Europe, but few would claim that the little ice age caused the Reformation.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann