exacerbate
/eks'æsə:beit/ Cách viết khác : (acerbate) /'æsəbeit/
Definition
- Verb:
- To make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse: To increase the severity, violence, or bitterness of something.
- To irritate or exasperate (someone): To annoy or provoke someone intensely, often making them more angry or frustrated.
Usage and Examples
- To make worse:
- The new policy only served to exacerbate the economic crisis.
- Scratching the rash will exacerbate the itching.
- To irritate or exasperate:
- His constant interruptions began to exacerbate everyone in the meeting.
- Please don't exacerbate her; she's already very upset.
Advanced Usage
- "exacerbate tensions": To make a state of strain or hostility more intense.
- The inflammatory speech exacerbated tensions between the two communities.
- "exacerbate a condition": (Often medical) To cause a disease or symptom to become more severe.
- Stress can exacerbate heart conditions.
Variants and Related Words
- Exacerbation (noun): The act or process of making something worse, or the state of being worsened.
- The exacerbation of her symptoms required a hospital visit.
- Exacerbating (adjective): Making a problem or feeling worse.
- His exacerbating comments were not helpful.
Synonyms
- Aggravate: To make a situation worse or more serious.
- Intensify: To become or make more intense.
- Worsen: To make or become worse.
- Inflame: To provoke or intensify strong feelings, often negative ones.
Antonyms
- Alleviate: To make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.
- Mitigate: To make less severe, serious, or painful.
- Improve: To make or become better.
- Soothe: To gently calm (a person or their feelings).
Related Phrases
- "risk of exacerbation": The potential for a situation or condition to become worse.
- Patients with asthma should avoid triggers to reduce the risk of exacerbation.
Verb
-
exasperate or irritate
-
make worse
-
This drug aggravates the pain
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