Word meaning
exacerbate
verb · ig-ZAS-er-bayt
What does exacerbate mean?
Exacerbate means to make a problem or bad situation worse.
Exacerbate in a sentence
“Scratching will only exacerbate the rash.”
Synonyms for exacerbate
- worsen
- aggravate
- intensify
Where does exacerbate come from?
From Latin acerbus, "harsh, bitter."
How to remember exacerbate
- Say it out loud a few times: ig-ZAS-er-bayt.
- Write one sentence of your own using exacerbate, about something that happened to you today.
- Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.
More words worth knowing
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- maverick — an independent-minded person who does not go along with the group.