Exacerbate Definition

ĭg-zăsər-bāt
exacerbated, exacerbates, exacerbating
verb
exacerbated, exacerbates, exacerbating
To make more intense or sharp; aggravate (disease, pain, annoyance, etc.)
Webster's New World
To increase the severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate.
A speech that exacerbated racial tensions; a heavy rainfall that exacerbated the flood problems.
American Heritage
To exasperate; annoy; irritate; embitter.
Webster's New World

To make worse (pain, anger, etc.) worse; aggravate.

The proposed shutdown would exacerbate unemployment problems.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
Antonyms:

Origin of Exacerbate

  • Latin exacerbāre exacerbāt- ex- intensive pref. ex– acerbāre to make harsh (from acerbus harsh ak- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Exacerbate Sentence Examples

  • He wanted desperately to put his arms around her but knew he'd just exacerbate the situation.

  • Excessive or hard exercise can exacerbate it.

  • He was largely responsible for the Scandinavian Seven Years' War (1562-70), which did so much to exacerbate the relations between Denmark and Sweden.

  • According to the National Women's Health Information Center, stress can cause or exacerbate physical health problems like high blood pressure, back and neck pain, and even diabetes.

  • The attempt of the king to enforce the official use of the Dutch language, and the foundation of the so-called philosophical college at Louvain helped to exacerbate the growing discontent.

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Words Starting With

EEXEXA

Words Ending With

ETEATE

Unscrambles

exacerbate

Words Starting With E and Ending With E

Starts With E & Ends With EStarts With EX & Ends With EStarts With E & Ends With TE

Word Length

10 Letter Words10 Letter Words Starting With E10 Letter Words Ending With E