exacerbate

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

verb (used with object)

, ex·ac·er·bat·ed, ex·ac·er·bat·ing.

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

   Synonyms: worsen, inflame, intensify

   Antonyms: alleviate, 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)

Derived Forms

• exˌacerˈbation, noun

Other Words From

• ex·ac·er·bat·ing·ly adverb
• ex·ac·er·ba·tion [ig-zas-er-, bey, -sh, uh, n, ek-sas-], noun
• un·ex·ac·er·bat·ing 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

The UN, for instance, recognizes the scarcity of resources exacerbated by climate change as one of the main drivers of conflict.

From Salon

"Attempting to phase out plastic rather than addressing the issue of plastic production risks undermining global progress and exacerbating economic inequality," said Salman Alajmi, a Kuwait delegate.

From BBC

The pellet facility operations would also exacerbate nitrous oxide air pollution — which can cause eye irritation, nausea and respiratory issues — by roughly 18%, in violation of local air standards, according to the report.

From Los Angeles Times

"There are challenges that we have with the number of firearms officers that we can deploy across Scotland and they are exacerbated across rural areas," said Mr Threadgold.

From BBC

There is no current treatment for PVR other than surgery, which itself carries a high risk of causing or exacerbating PVR.

From Science Daily

Related Words

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