exacerbate

exacerbate Definition

ex·ac·er·bate (eg zas′ər bāt′, ig-)

transitive verb -·bat′ed, -·bat′·ing

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

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

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