Definition
To exacerbate means to make something worse or more severe, especially a problem or situation.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
Part of Speech
Verb
Synonyms
Worsen, aggravate, intensify, escalate, heighten
Antonyms
Alleviate, improve, mitigate, ease, relieve
Word Forms
| Part of Speech | Words |
|---|---|
| Noun | exacerbation, exacerbations |
| Verb | exacerbating, exacerbates, exacerbated, exacerbate |
| Adjective | None |
| Adverb | None |
Example Sentences
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The company’s decision to lay off more employees will only exacerbate the financial crisis they are already facing.
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His careless attitude towards his health will only exacerbate his condition.
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The government’s failure to provide adequate resources to combat the pandemic has exacerbated the situation.
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The heavy rainfall exacerbated the flooding in the low-lying areas.
Usage
The word ’exacerbate’ is used to describe a situation where something is made worse or more severe. It can be used in various contexts, such as health, finance, and natural disasters. The verb ’exacerbate’ comes from the Latin word ’exacerbare,’ which means ’to irritate.'
The word ’exacerbate’ is often used in situations where a problem or condition is already present, and something happens to make it worse. For example, if someone has a medical condition and they continue to smoke, this will exacerbate their condition. Similarly, if a company is facing financial problems and they decide to cut jobs, this will exacerbate the situation and make it worse.
Prefixes and suffixes can be added to the word ’exacerbate’ to create related words. For example, the prefix ’re-’ can be added to create ’re-exacerbate,’ which means to make something worse again after it has improved. The suffix ‘-tion’ can be added to create ’exacerbation,’ which refers to the act of exacerbating or the state of being exacerbated.
In conclusion, ’exacerbate’ is a verb that means to make something worse or more severe. It can be used in various contexts to describe a situation where a problem or condition is already present, and something happens to make it worse. Prefixes and suffixes can be added to the word to create related words.