exacerbate conflict

USAGE SUMMARY

"exacerbate conflict" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has caused an existing conflict to worsen. For example, "The introduction of new tariffs has only served to exacerbate conflict between the two countries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The exploitation of Congo's mineral resources continues to exacerbate conflict and instability on the ground.

The New York Times

What can I say to exacerbate conflict?'" Brand's critique of Hannity's segment, named "Sympathy For The Terrorists", wasn't always so eloquent, however.

Independent

The attempt to create impersonal, merit-oriented bureaucracies and to spread liberal beliefs about gender, religion or criminal punishment is as likely to exacerbate conflict as to resolve it.

The New York Times - Books

The view of distinguished sociologists such as David Martin is that in the modern world wars are usually caused by factors other than religion, but that because religion is such a crucial marker of identity, it can be used by unscrupulous people to exacerbate conflict.

The Guardian - Books

When this happens, risk communication methodologies fail to achieve authentic dialogue and can exacerbate conflict.

European Journal of Operational Research

"We never accept military intervention in Mali, because this will exacerbate conflict in the region," he said at an Arab economic summit in Saudi Arabia.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

It also warned that worsening inequality can "lead to or exacerbate conflicts and reduce social cohesion".

The Guardian

But the notorious ruling seems destined to further drive up independent expenditures on behalf of judicial candidates and exacerbate conflicts of interest on the bench.

The New York Times

The Oscar-winning actress spoke about war-zone rape to the organization's highest council, which urged its members to unanimously adopt a resolution that rape can exacerbate conflicts and gets in the way of peace.

Los Angeles Times

And just as a lack of development can cause and exacerbate conflicts and natural disasters, so disasters and conflicts can halt and even reverse development progress.

Unicef

Our court system is adversarial and exacerbates conflict.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exacerbate conflict", ensure that the conflict already exists; the phrase implies the worsening of an existing situation, not the creation of a new one.

Common error

Avoid using "exacerbate conflict" when describing the initial cause of a conflict. Instead, use it to describe factors that worsen or intensify a pre-existing conflict. For example, say "trigger a conflict" for the initial cause, and "exacerbate the conflict" for subsequent factors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exacerbate conflict" functions as a verb phrase with a noun object, indicating the action of making a conflict worse. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exacerbate conflict" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe the worsening of existing conflicts. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives like ""worsen the conflict"" and "intensify the conflict" exist, the core meaning remains consistent: making an already problematic situation even more severe. It is essential to use this phrase accurately, ensuring the described conflict is pre-existing and not a new one, for effective and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worsen the conflict

Replaces "exacerbate" with "worsen", a more common synonym.

intensify the conflict

Substitutes "exacerbate" with "intensify", suggesting an increase in the degree of conflict.

aggravate the conflict

Uses "aggravate" in place of "exacerbate", implying a making conflict more serious.

fuel the conflict

Replaces "exacerbate" with "fuel", metaphorically suggesting the conflict is being fed or sustained.

heighten the conflict

Substitutes "exacerbate" with "heighten", indicating an increase in the intensity or visibility of conflict.

compound the conflict

Replaces "exacerbate" with "compound", meaning to make the conflict worse by adding to it.

inflame the conflict

Substitutes "exacerbate" with "inflame", suggesting an increase in the emotional intensity of conflict.

add fuel to the fire

An idiomatic expression meaning to make a bad situation worse.

escalate the tensions

Focuses on the tensions leading to conflict, rather than the conflict itself.

aggravate existing tensions

Replaces both verb and noun to describe pre-existing sources of conflict.

FAQs

How can I use "exacerbate conflict" in a sentence?

You can use "exacerbate conflict" to describe actions or situations that worsen an existing conflict. For instance, "The new policy is likely to "worsen the conflict" between the two groups."

What are some alternatives to "exacerbate conflict"?

Alternatives include phrases like "intensify the conflict", "aggravate the conflict", or "fuel the conflict", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is "exacerbate conflict" formal or informal?

"Exacerbate conflict" is generally considered a neutral to formal phrase, suitable for academic, news, and professional contexts. It is less common in informal settings.

What's the difference between "exacerbate conflict" and "cause conflict"?

"Cause conflict" refers to initiating a conflict, while "exacerbate conflict" refers to worsening an existing one. For instance, a rumor might cause conflict, but misinformation could then "worsen the conflict".