exacerbate the damage

USAGE SUMMARY

"exacerbate the damage" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something intensifies an existing problem or problem situation. For example, "The high winds coupled with the heavy rainfall exacerbated the damage done to the town by the hurricane."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Rising defaults would exacerbate the damage.

The Economist

They exacerbate the damage caused by journal quality rankings based on "impact factor", which is already recognised by the scientific community in the west as problematic.

The Guardian

One of the favoured plans to restrict freedom of movement but protect the UK economy following the vote to leave the EU would exacerbate the damage of Brexit to the technology sector companies fear.

The Guardian - Tech

They're going to amplify, accelerate and exacerbate the damage.

TechCrunch

Cells in the spinal cord are mainly post-mitotic and tissue regeneration is poor; thus, these inflammatory mediators can exacerbate the damage to spared tissue and thereby impair spontaneous functional recovery.

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences

Though PCBs are not a pollutant related to climate change, the challenges brought by a warming world can exacerbate the damage they cause.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Heading straight into the mouth of the canal, guided by a flare dropped by the launch, Vindictive became an instant target of the German batteries and was badly damaged, the shellfire exacerbating the damage suffered in the earlier Zeebrugge Raid and seriously damaging Vindictives port propeller.

Wikipedia

Underdevelopment in the isolated part of eastern Uganda has exacerbated the damage, he said.

The New York Times

Some environmentalists argue that the clearing of mangroves to make way for shrimp ponds exacerbated the damage.

The Economist

Climate change clearly exacerbated the damage of both Harvey and Irma, if for no other reason than the fact that higher sea levels produce higher storm surges.

The New Yorker

The concerns over Syria are exacerbating the damage already caused in emerging markets in recent weeks, due to the prospect of the US ending its monetary stimulus programme.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the consequences of an action, use "exacerbate the damage" to emphasize the worsening of an already negative situation. It highlights the increasing severity of the harm.

Common error

Avoid using "exacerbate the damage" in contexts where simpler terms like "worsen" or "increase" suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exacerbate the damage" functions as a verb phrase, where "exacerbate" acts as a transitive verb taking "the damage" as its direct object. It's used to describe the act of making existing harm or negative effects more severe. Ludwig AI confirms this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exacerbate the damage" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to describe the act of making an existing negative situation worse. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usage across various sources, from news and media to scientific publications. While not exceedingly common, the phrase is appropriate for formal and neutral contexts, emphasizing the intensification of harm. Alternatives such as "worsen the harm" or "aggravate the injury" offer simpler or more specific options, depending on the intended meaning. It's important to use the phrase judiciously to avoid unnecessary complexity in simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worsen the harm

Changes the verb to 'worsen', offering a slightly more common and direct synonym.

aggravate the injury

Substitutes 'damage' with 'injury', focusing on physical or emotional harm.

intensify the destruction

Replaces 'damage' with 'destruction', suggesting a more severe level of harm.

compound the loss

Uses 'compound' instead of 'exacerbate', highlighting the addition of further negative effects.

magnify the detriment

Employs 'magnify' and 'detriment' for a more formal and emphatic tone.

add to the suffering

Shifts focus to the emotional impact, using 'suffering' to replace 'damage'.

heighten the negative impact

Replaces 'damage' with 'negative impact', providing a broader perspective.

fuel the crisis

Uses a metaphorical expression to suggest intensifying a problematic situation.

deepen the wound

Employs a figurative term, suggesting increasing emotional or psychological pain.

wreak further havoc

Replaces 'exacerbate the damage' with an expression focusing on creating more chaos and disorder.

FAQs

How can I use "exacerbate the damage" in a sentence?

You can use "exacerbate the damage" to describe situations where something makes an existing harm or negative situation worse. For example, "The lack of rain will "exacerbate the damage" caused by the wildfires."

What are some alternatives to "exacerbate the damage"?

Alternatives include "worsen the harm", "aggravate the injury", or "intensify the destruction". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "exacerbate the damage" or "worsen the damage"?

"Exacerbate the damage" is more formal and emphasizes a significant increase in harm. "Worsen the damage" is simpler and more direct. Choose based on your desired tone and audience.

What does "exacerbate" mean in the context of "exacerbate the damage"?

In this context, "exacerbate" means to make the existing damage worse or more severe. It implies that something is actively increasing the negative impact of a situation.