exacerbate
Use Exacerbate in a sentence
ərˌbeɪt, ɛkˈsæs- verb (used with object), ex·ac·er·bat·ed, ex·ac·er·bat·ing.
1.
to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
2.
to embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate.
Origin:
1650–60; < Latin exacerbātus (past participle of exacerbāre to exasperate, provoke), equivalent to ex- ex-1 + acerbātus acerbate
1650–60; < Latin exacerbātus (past participle of exacerbāre to exasperate, provoke), equivalent to ex- ex-1 + acerbātus acerbate
Related forms
ex·ac·er·bat·ing·ly, adverb
ex·ac·er·ba·tion, noun
un·ex·ac·er·bat·ed, adjective
un·ex·ac·er·bat·ing, adjective
Synonyms
1. intensify, inflame, worsen.
1. intensify, inflame, worsen.
Antonyms
1. relieve, soothe, alleviate.
1. relieve, soothe, alleviate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To exacerbate
00:10
Exacerbate
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is fortuitous. Does it mean:
| happening or produced by chance; accidental |
| inconvenient, as not affording sufficient space or room; uncomfortable: |
Collins
World English Dictionary
exacerbate (ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt, ɪkˈsæs-) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to make (pain, disease, emotion, etc) more intense; aggravate |
| 2. | to exasperate or irritate (a person) |
| [C17: from Latin exacerbāre to irritate, from acerbus bitter] | |
| exacer'bation | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
exacerbate
1650s, from L. exacerbat-, pp. stem of exacerbare (see exacerbation). Related: Exacerbated; exacerbating.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Worse, the hurricane could well exacerbate the tensions that lurk in the city.
And the reserve's borders, which are fenced on all but the southern side, may only serve to exacerbate the problem.
Tendency is inherited, but improper shoes can exacerbate problem.
Export restrictions also exacerbate the rise of global food prices.
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