From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishexacerbateex‧a‧cer‧bate /ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt $ -sər-/ ●○○ verb [transitive] WORSEto make a bad situation worse The recession has exacerbated this problem. I don’t want to exacerbate the situation. —exacerbation /ɪɡˌzæsəˈbeɪʃən $ -sər-/ noun [uncountable]→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
exacerbate• Financial problems have been exacerbated by declining enrollment.• The floods have been exacerbated by our stupidity.• The problem is further exacerbated by the prevailing view as to the nature and constituents of leadership in schools.• Their dilemmas are similar to those of many adoptive families but are exacerbated by the racial and ethnic issues already discussed.• Ironically, the government's reassurances may have exacerbated fear about the disease.• Howe's unkind remarks have exacerbated racial tensions in the community.• Their speeches had a pitiful, pleading quality about them, exacerbating the problem.• The family's problems were exacerbated when Walter lost his job.• Friction between the generations is exacerbated when younger staff grasp the new idea and their creativity is suddenly released.Origin exacerbate (1600-1700) Latin past participle of exacerbare, from acerbus “bitter” 