exacerbate
gb/ɪɡzˈæsɚbˌeɪt/ us/ɪɡzˈæsɚbˌeɪt/
C1
English
~ 8100
súlyosbít
VERB
C1
FORMAL
1
súlyosbít
C1
Usage pattern:
to exacerbate [problem/situation/feeling]
The new tax policies may exacerbate existing social inequalities.
Az új adópolitikai intézkedések tovább súlyosbíthatják a meglévő társadalmi egyenlőtlenségeket.
His careless remarks only served to exacerbate the tension in the room.
A meggondolatlan megjegyzései csak tovább súlyosbították a szobában uralkodó feszültséget.
Dry air can exacerbate asthma symptoms during the winter months.
Delays in aid delivery will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Lack of clear communication exacerbated the confusion among employees.
Learner examples
The new rule may exacerbate the problem instead of solving it.
Az új szabály ahelyett, hogy megoldaná a problémát, még súlyosbíthatja is azt.
Cold weather can exacerbate her joint pain.
A hideg idő súlyosbíthatja az ízületi fájdalmait.
His angry words exacerbated the conflict between the two teams.
Smoking can exacerbate heart and lung problems.
Stress can exacerbate your skin problems.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "exacerbate" with "exaggerate" because they look similar. "Exacerbate" means to make a bad situation worse, while "exaggerate" means to say something is bigger, worse, or more important than it really is. Another common mistake is using "exacerbate" with a neutral or positive object; it should almost always take a negative noun (problem, pain, conflict, crisis, symptoms).
Meaning
make something bad even worse
Collocations
exacerbate the problem
|exacerbate the situation
|exacerbate tensions
|exacerbate symptoms
|exacerbate inequality
|exacerbate the crisis
Synonyms
worsen (The most direct and general synonym; slightly more common and less formal than "exacerbate".)
|
aggravate (Very close in meaning in formal use, but can also mean "annoy" in everyday speech, which "exacerbate" does not.)
|
intensify (Focuses on making something stronger; not limited to negative things, while "exacerbate" is only used for negative situations.)
Antonyms
alleviate (Means to make pain or a problem less severe, the opposite of making it worse.)
|
ease (Means to reduce difficulty or discomfort, contrasting with increasing it.)
Themes
problems
|health
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a bad problem or feeling even worse than before.
To make an already bad situation, problem, or feeling more serious, intense, or difficult to deal with.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exacerbate
IPA
GB/ɪɡzˈæsɚbˌeɪt/
US/ɪɡzˈæsɚbˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
ex - acer - bate (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (acer)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: exacerbate
- 3rd Person Singular: exacerbates
- Present Participle: exacerbating
- Past: exacerbated
Word family
Forms
exacerbates
verb
exacerbating
verb
exacerbated
verb
Core family
exacerbation
noun
Negative and opposite forms
alleviate
verb B2
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.