exacerbate

USAGE SUMMARY

'exacerbate' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used to describe making a situation worse, or to describe making a feeling or emotion stronger, usually in a negative way. For example, "Increased taxes only served to exacerbate the existing economic problems in the region."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But current events will inevitably exacerbate the already established stereotype of the majority of young individuals as "thugs" and "gangsters", especially within the black community.

The Guardian - Opinion

Rising temperatures leading to greater water scarcity, sea level rises and extreme weather events may exacerbate tensions over natural resources and cause large numbers of people to become "climate refugees" as they migrate across borders.

The Guardian - Opinion

The likes of Forsyth will be looking to the prime minister to heal, and not exacerbate, wounds as he did when he played the English card after the Scottish independence referendum.

The Guardian

"There is no doubt that a decline in remittances will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and erode the gains Somalia has made in recent years".

The Guardian

Under this rule, we would only release media once [potential irregular immigrants] were transferred ashore (at the earliest) … The fact that people will learn of certain details through Rescue Coordination Centre broadcasts … that does not mean that we greatly exacerbate the problem but (sic) announcing it ourselves.

The Guardian - Opinion

High temperatures exacerbate these dry conditions by increasing evaporation, soil dryness, and water demand.

The Guardian

Ever greater fragmentation and atomisation, more schools with unqualified teachers and no local oversight, the centralisation of power in an unwieldy Department for Education can only exacerbate the risk of further problems.

The Guardian - Opinion

A peace agreement could bring a flood of investment into extractive industries and exacerbate deforestation.

The Guardian

While some senators scored well on the report's -100 to +100 scale, most were middle-of-the-pack, and several scored near zero or negatively, meaning they either stayed silent on climate change or actively supported policies that exacerbate it.

The Guardian

Population is the driver of just about everything else and rapid population growth can exacerbate all kinds of challenges".

The Guardian

The design of our family payments system can create a perverse incentive in the form of a "low income" or "low participation" trap for women with young children, which child care costs only exacerbate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exacerbate" when you want to emphasize the act of making something already negative even worse. It suggests a direct contribution to the worsening of a condition or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "exacerbate" when you mean to lessen or relieve something. "Exacerbate" means to make worse, while "alleviate" means to make better. Ensure you're not inadvertently claiming to improve a situation when your intention is to describe its worsening.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "exacerbate" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being made worse. Ludwig highlights its use in diverse contexts, confirming its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "exacerbate" is a transitive verb used to describe making a situation or problem worse. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news media, formal business communications, and scientific publications. While "exacerbate" is a common word, it is important to avoid confusing it with its antonym, "alleviate". Understanding its proper usage ensures clarity and precision in writing. Alternatives include "worsen", "aggravate", and "intensify", offering nuanced options for expressing similar meanings. Ludwig offers numerous examples demonstrating the versatility of "exacerbate" in conveying the act of making something negative even more severe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make matters worse

Focuses on the deterioration of a situation, emphasizing the negative impact of an action.

aggravate the situation

Highlights the act of making a situation more serious or troublesome.

intensify the problem

Emphasizes the amplification of an existing issue or difficulty.

compound the difficulties

Focuses on adding to existing problems, making them more complex.

heighten the tension

Specifically refers to increasing the level of stress or strain in a situation.

inflame the situation

Implies stirring up strong feelings or making a situation more volatile.

magnify the effect

Emphasizes the increase in the magnitude or impact of something.

fuel the crisis

Suggests adding resources or elements that worsen a critical situation.

add insult to injury

Highlights making a bad situation even worse, often with an element of unfairness.

pour oil on the fire

Implies making a heated situation more intense or volatile, despite the intention to calm it.

FAQs

How can I use "exacerbate" in a sentence?

"Exacerbate" is used to describe making a situation worse. For example, "His lack of sleep will "exacerbate his already poor health"".

What are some alternatives to "exacerbate"?

Alternatives to "exacerbate" include "worsen", "aggravate", or "intensify", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "exacerbate the good"?

No, "exacerbate" typically applies to negative situations or conditions. It's more appropriate to use words like "enhance" or "amplify" when referring to positive outcomes.

What's the difference between "exacerbate" and "aggravate"?

While both imply making something worse, "exacerbate" often refers to making an existing problem more severe, while "aggravate" can also mean to annoy or irritate. For instance, "The loud noise "aggravated" his headache", but "The economic crisis "exacerbated" poverty".