Exacerbate

In layman's terms - to make things worse

Exacerbate Meaning & Definition

Exacerbate means to make a situation worse or more severe. For example, if someone is already feeling sick, taking medicine that has side effects could exacerbate their symptoms, making them feel worse.

Exacerbate Used in a Sentence

1. The hot weather only exacerbated the drought, causing even more damage to the crops.
2. The manager's poor communication skills exacerbated the tension among the team members.
3. The financial crisis exacerbated the poverty levels in the country, affecting even more people.

Exacerbate Similar Words & Phrases (Synonyms)

1. Aggravate
2. Intensify
3. Worsen
4. Heighten
5. Escalate

Exacerbate Opposite Words & Phrases (Antonyms)

1. Alleviate
2. Improve
3. Ease
4. Lessen
5. Relieve