exacerbate fear

USAGE SUMMARY

'exacerbate fear' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which fear is heightened or intensified. For example, "The recent increase in global conflict has exacerbated fear in our community about the potential for war."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Given that fear of negative evaluation is a primary component of social anxiety [ 27], concerns about negative evaluation of one's social group and oneself as a representative of that group may exacerbate fear of social situations and lead to avoidance (dropout).

BMC Psychiatry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Mr. Trump's undisguised swipe at the South for "appeasement" was certain to exacerbate fears that the United States might put it in danger.

The New York Times

Next month, for example, the European Central Bank is expected to reveal its nonstandard policy prescriptions to save the euro, which could alleviate or exacerbate fears over the region's debt crisis.

The New York Times

This is sure to exacerbate fears that Facebook will further exploit Instagram now that its founders have resigned.

TechCrunch

The numbers will only exacerbate fears that Twitter, still a massive company with a dedicated following, will max out its reach unless it makes dramatic changes.

Los Angeles Times

While some participants said that poor families were exempted from derema [prayer ceremony], non-performance was thought likely to exacerbate fears in those who placed their faith in the ceremony.

Archives of Women's Mental Health

The project covers only a select number of cases and its very focus risks exacerbating fear and paranoia, when in reality, as Olmos points out, London currently has a very low murder rate.

The Guardian

While the foregoing evidence indicates that through diverse gestures, practitioners can help ease pupils' apprehension and disorientation after violent displacement, unpopular normalised practices in Kenyan schools like 'entry tests' supposedly exacerbated fear of rejection or discrimination for already rejection-vulnerable children.

International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy

In 1942, official stigmatization exacerbated fear and suspicion toward all persons of Japanese ancestry even though there was no evidence of a single case of espionage among over 120,000 persons excluded from the West Coast.

Huffington Post

Even if the detentions were the result of an investigation that predated the Trump administration, immigrant advocates questioned the timing and the nature of ICE's searches, saying they had exacerbated fear across the community and raised concerns about lack of due process.

Los Angeles Times

Speakers noted that negative stereotypes in the popular media exacerbated fear of the disease and stigma and were likely contributors to delays in care-seeking.

Cancer Causes and Control

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exacerbate fear" when you want to convey that a situation or action makes an existing fear more intense. It is suitable for formal writing and discussions.

Common error

Avoid using "exacerbate fear" when you mean to say something caused the fear in the first place. "Exacerbate" implies the fear already exists and is being made worse, not initiated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exacerbate fear" functions as a verb-object construction, where "exacerbate" (verb) acts upon "fear" (noun). This construction is used to describe the act of making fear more intense or severe. Ludwig AI indicates that it is valid in written English, describing a heightened or intensified fear.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exacerbate fear" is used to describe the intensification of existing fear. While grammatically sound and valid, as noted by Ludwig AI, it's relatively rare. Its usage spans across News & Media, scientific, and formal business contexts, maintaining a generally neutral to formal tone. When employing this phrase, ensure that you are referring to a pre-existing fear that is being amplified, not a fear that is newly created. Alternatives like "intensify fear" or "heighten fear" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Remember to choose the most appropriate phrase depending on the level of formality required and the specific context of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intensify fear

Focuses on making the fear stronger; less formal than "exacerbate".

heighten fear

Similar to "intensify", but suggests raising the level of fear.

amplify fear

Implies increasing the magnitude or extent of fear.

aggravate fear

Suggests making an existing fear worse; similar in tone to "exacerbate".

fuel fear

Implies providing impetus or encouragement to fear.

inflame fear

Suggests stirring up fear to a greater intensity, often with negative connotations.

compound fear

Implies adding to existing fear, making it more complex or severe.

augment fear

Suggests increasing fear by adding something to it.

increase fear

A more direct and less formal way of saying "exacerbate fear".

foment fear

Suggests deliberately instigating or promoting fear.

FAQs

How to use "exacerbate fear" in a sentence?

You can use "exacerbate fear" to describe how a certain situation or action intensifies an existing fear, for example: "The media coverage of the event only served to exacerbate fear among the public."

What can I say instead of "exacerbate fear"?

You can use alternatives like "intensify fear", "heighten fear", or "amplify fear" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "exacerbate fear" or "cause fear"?

"Exacerbate fear" is used when the fear already exists and is being made worse. "Cause fear" is used when something creates the fear in the first place. The choice depends on whether the fear is pre-existing or newly created.

Does "exacerbate fear" have any negative connotations?

Yes, "exacerbate fear" often carries a negative connotation, implying that the intensification of fear is undesirable or harmful. However, the intensity of its negative connotation is smaller if compared with alternatives like "foment fear" or "inflame fear".