Exacerbated
ɪɡˈzæsərˌbeɪtɪd
Definitions
To make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
ɪɡˈzæsərˌbeɪt
To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
The heat exacerbated my headache.
💡 Simply: Imagine you spill a little juice, then you accidentally knock over the whole carton! Exacerbating is like that—making something that's already not good, even worse. If you get a small cut, then you don't clean it and it gets infected, the infection *exacerbates* the problem.
👶 For kids: To make something that is already bad, even worse.
More Examples
His rude comments only exacerbated the argument.
The lack of rain exacerbated the drought.
How It's Used
"The infection exacerbated the patient's condition."
"The new policy exacerbated tensions between the two countries."
"The recession exacerbated the unemployment problem."
From Latin *exacerbare* meaning 'to make harsh, irritate', from *ex-* (out) + *acerbus* (bitter, harsh). It entered English in the 17th century.
The word gained prominence in the scientific and medical fields before becoming more widely used in broader contexts.
Memory tip
Think of a bad situation getting extra salty (exacerbated).
Word Origin
"to make harsh, irritate"