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exacerbate Definition

ex·ac·er·bate (eg zasər bāt′, ig-)

transitive verb -·bat′ed, -·bat′·ing

  1. to make more intense or sharp; aggravate (disease, pain, annoyance, etc.)
  2. to exasperate; annoy; irritate; embitter

Etymology: < L exacerbatus, pp. of exacerbare, to exasperate, make angry < ex-, intens. + acerbus, bitter: see acerbity

exacerbate Related Forms
ex·ac′·er·ba·tion noun
exacerbate Synonyms

exacerbate

v.

  1. To aggravate

    worsen, heighten, intensify, add fuel to the flames*; see increase 1, intensify.

  2. To irritate

    exasperate, annoy, provoke; see bother 2.

exacerbate Usage Examples

Object

  • tension: The First World War also exacerbated social tensions across Europe.
  • inequality: Can vouchers be fair, or do they exacerbate existing inequalities?
  • imbalance: The last thing we should be doing is using billions to exacerbate that imbalance.
  • asthma: Ozone - An irritant to the throat eyes and lungs, which will exacerbate asthma, allergy and bronchial conditions.
  • shortage: They also believe these policies " prevent willing and healthy members of the community from giving blood and exacerbate the current blood shortage.
  • inflammation: Ozone effects last 24 to 48 hours, exacerbating particulate inflammation ( which lasts acutely for 6 days ).

Modifying Another Word

  • thereby: In the trauma setting, however, the blood-brain barrier may be disrupted allowing leakage of the mannitol thereby exacerbating the problem.
  • greatly: A phenomenon greatly exacerbated by the development of the imperialist stage of capitalism.

Subject

  • lack: The venue has some added problems all of which are exacerbated by lack of space.
  • shortage: This has been exacerbated by staff shortages through illnesses in all hospitals.
  • absence: The problem had been exacerbated by the absence of global norms for reducing the accumulation, transfer and trafficking.
  • stress: Meanwhile, Suzi's illness still flares up, exacerbated by stress ( being married to a goalie can't help much ).

Present participle complement

  • pre-exist: Poor conditions and overcrowding in Russian prisons have exacerbated pre-existing weaknesses in prison health services to create high levels of infection among prisoners.
  • exist: Cannabis use may also exacerbate existing mental health problems.

Preposition: by

  • lack: The venue has some added problems all of which are exacerbated by lack of space.
  • shortage: This has been exacerbated by staff shortages through illnesses in all hospitals.
  • absence: The problem had been exacerbated by the absence of global norms for reducing the accumulation, transfer and trafficking.
  • stress: Meanwhile, Suzi's illness still flares up, exacerbated by stress ( being married to a goalie can't help much ).

Browse dictionary entries near exacerbate

  1. exa-
  2. ex-warrant
  3. ex-voto
  4. ex-rights
  5. ex-
  6. ex post facto law
  7. ex post facto
  8. ex parte
  9. ex officio
  10. ex nihilo
  1. exacerbation
  2. exact
  3. exact interest
  4. exacta
  5. exacting
  6. exaction
  7. exactitude
  8. exactly
  9. exactness
  10. exaggerate