exacerbates
|ex-ac-er-bates|
🇺🇸
/ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt/
🇬🇧
/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/
(exacerbate)
make worse
Etymology
'exacerbate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'exacerbare', where 'ex-' meant 'thoroughly' and 'acerbus' meant 'harsh' or 'bitter'.
'exacerbate' changed from Late Latin 'exacerbare' (and related Medieval/Modern Latin forms) and entered English via scholarly/modern Latin usage to become the modern English word 'exacerbate'.
Initially, it meant 'to make harsh or bitter', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse or more severe'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
third-person singular present of 'exacerbate': to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse or more severe; to aggravate.
This policy exacerbates income inequality in many regions.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/10 07:41