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exacerbate

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Exacerbate is defined as to make worse or more severe.

(verb)

An example of exacerbate is to lift heavy items while already having a painful back condition.

See exacerbate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb exacerbated, exacerbating

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

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

Related Forms:

exacerbation noun

See exacerbate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ex·ac·er·bat·ed, ex·ac·er·bat·ing, ex·ac·er·bates

To increase the severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate: a speech that exacerbated racial tensions; a heavy rainfall that exacerbated the flood problems.

Origin:

Origin: Latin exacerbāre, exacerbāt-

Origin: : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex-

Origin: + acerbāre, to make harsh (from acerbus, harsh; see ak- in Indo-European roots)

Related Forms:

ex·acˌer·baˈtion noun

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