Definition of EXACERBATE

exacerbate

Verb

  • make worse
  • exasperate or irritate
  • To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.).

Examples

  • The proposed shutdown would exacerbate unemployment problems.

Origin / Etymology

First attested in 1660; borrowed from Latin exacerbātus, perfect passive participle of Latin exacerbō (“to provoke”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out of; thoroughly”) + acerbō (“to embitter, harshen or worsen”).

Antonyms

better

Scrabble Score: 21

exacerbate: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
exacerbate: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
exacerbate: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 23

exacerbate: valid Words With Friends Word