exacerbate the issue

USAGE SUMMARY

"exacerbate the issue" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to make a problem or situation worse or more severe. Example sentence: The lack of rainfall will only exacerbate the issue of water scarcity in this region.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Fall Quarter just seemed to exacerbate the issue entirely.

Stanford University

Delaying these vital decisions will only exacerbate the issue".

Independent

So presumably sportswomen -wearing thongs only serve to exacerbate the issue.

The Guardian - Sport

But critics charge his solutions are likely to exacerbate the issue.

The Guardian - Tech

Dyke rightly warned the £5bn windfall is likely to exacerbate the issue rather than help solve it.

The Guardian - Sport

An abnormally large upfront payment, even before any of the book is written, would exacerbate the issue, she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

All of these policies, of course, would exacerbate the issues of demographic decline and labor shortfalls, as discussed in the previous sections.

European Journal of Futures Research

It's no news that eating too many calories contributes to weight gain (and a host of other health problems) and that dining on calorie-dense but nutritionally junky foods can exacerbate the issues.

Huffington Post

Competition has exacerbated the issue.

The Guardian

But now climate change is exacerbating the issue.

The Guardian

A lack of national alcohol strategy was exacerbating the issue.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "exacerbate the issue", ensure that the context clearly establishes the existing problem. Avoid vague or ambiguous references to the "issue".

Common error

Avoid using "exacerbate the issue" when a simpler word like "worsen" or "aggravate" would suffice. Overusing complex vocabulary can make your writing sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "exacerbate the issue" functions as a verb phrase, with "exacerbate" acting as a transitive verb taking "the issue" as its direct object. According to Ludwig, it's a correct and commonly used phrase, which means to worsen a specific problem.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

24%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "exacerbate the issue" is a common and correct way to describe the worsening of a problem. As Ludwig AI states, it means "to make a problem or situation worse or more severe". While grammatically straightforward, choosing simpler alternatives like "worsen the problem" may be more appropriate in informal contexts. Its frequent use in news, science and academic writing highlights its suitability for neutral to formal communications, with primary sources being The Guardian, The New York Times and HuffPost. Remember to clearly define the "issue" to maintain clarity and avoid overuse in simplistic scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Worsen the problem

Replaces "exacerbate" with the simpler and more common verb "worsen".

Make matters worse

A simple and direct way of saying that something will worsen the existing situation.

Compound the problem

Suggests adding to or intensifying an existing problem.

Aggravate the situation

Focuses on the overall situation becoming more serious or troublesome.

Intensify the matter

Emphasizes the increasing intensity or severity of the issue.

Heighten the concern

Highlights the growing level of worry or apprehension surrounding the issue.

Deepen the crisis

Implies making a difficult situation even more critical or precarious.

Fuel the debate

Suggests adding more energy or intensity to an existing disagreement.

Inflame the tensions

Highlights the increase in hostility or conflict related to the issue.

Add fuel to the fire

An idiomatic expression meaning to make a bad situation even worse.

FAQs

How to use "exacerbate the issue" in a sentence?

Use "exacerbate the issue" to describe actions or circumstances that worsen an existing problem. For example, "The lack of funding will only exacerbate the issue of homelessness".

What can I say instead of "exacerbate the issue"?

You can use alternatives like "worsen the problem", "aggravate the situation", or "compound the problem" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "exacerbate the issue" or "solve the issue"?

"Exacerbate the issue" describes making a problem worse, while "solve the issue" means resolving the problem. They are opposites, so the choice depends on what you want to convey.

What's the difference between "exacerbate the issue" and "address the issue"?

"Exacerbate the issue" means to make the problem worse, while "address the issue" means to take steps to deal with or resolve the problem. Therefore, these phrases have opposite meanings.