exacerbate
verb [T] /ɪɡˈzæs.ə.beɪt/
/-ɚ-/ Definition
› to make something that is already bad even worse: This attack will exacerbate the already tense relations between the two communities.Deteriorating and making worse exacerbation /ɪɡˌzæs.əˈbeɪ.ʃən/
/-ɚ-/ noun [U] Deteriorating and making worse
/-ɚ-/ noun [U] Deteriorating and making worse (Definition of exacerbate verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Deteriorating and making worse, but you might be interested in these topics from the Breaking and damaging topic area:
- Damaging and spoiling
- Destroying and demolishing
- Exploding and erupting
- Fragile and breakable
- Hitting against objects accidentally and colliding
- Hitting and beating
- In bad condition
- Injuring and injuries
- Scratching and rubbing
- Squeezing and grinding
- Tearing and breaking into pieces
- Undamaged, unbroken or in good condition
- Upsetting and destabilizing
Browse the Dictionary
Browse the Thesaurus
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- a step backwards idiom
- a turn of the screw idiom
- aggravate verb (MAKE WORSE)
- backslide verb
- be half the dancer, writer, etc. you used to be idiom
- compound verb (WORSEN)
- decline verb (GO DOWN)
- degrade verb (SPOIL)
- downgrade noun
- downgrade verb
- fan the flames idiom
- for the worse idiom
- from the sublime to the ridiculous idiom
- go off phrasal verb (BECOME WORSE)
- retrograde adjective
- retrogress verb
- run (sth) down phrasal verb (LOSE POWER)
- run yourself down phrasal verb
- seed noun (PLANT)
- slip verb (GET WORSE)
Word of the Day
ride (out) the storm
to manage not to be destroyed, harmed or permanently affected by the difficult situation you...
Blog
Read our blog about how the English language behaves.
New Words
Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.
