exacerbated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'exacerbated' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation that has been made worse or more difficult. Example: The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities in education.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But she said the outright denial was exacerbated at Chicago's secretive interrogation and holding facility: "It's very, very rare for anyone to experience their constitutional rights in Chicago police custody, and even more so at Homan Square," Solowiej said.

The Guardian

Extremists do, as Cameron said, "thrive when they have ungoverned spaces in which they can exist, build and plan" and the aftermath of the Arab spring has not just opened up new terrain but also exacerbated existing problems of lawlessness and criminality.

The Guardian

The social and economic crisis in Somalia is exacerbated – and to some extent caused – by clan warfare.

The Guardian

They are worried his rhetoric to take over government nationally will bring a defensive, authoritarian response from the incumbent government and that his young coalition lacks the experience to address the growing national problems exacerbated by Abdullah's mismanagement.

The Guardian - Opinion

The premium on land was exacerbated by the Rent Control Act of 1947, which wasn't amended till 1999.

The Guardian

Matters are probably exacerbated by the fact the rest of the family are avid readers.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There is behind this, you intuit, a growth in sleepless nights, one that is exacerbated by a numbness about numbers big and small.

The Guardian

The political tension has been exacerbated by incidents such as one in which a 14-year-old Crimean Tatar was beaten by unknown men who reportedly said Tatars should be kicked off the peninsula.

The Guardian

These shortcomings were exacerbated by the behaviour of his wife, Patience, when she met the mothers of the kidnapped girls.

The Guardian

Such harassment, if true, is certainly exacerbated by Ibrahim's pointed critique of the government.

The Guardian - Opinion

The possum's woes have been exacerbated by fire, with the report showing that of the 195,000ha of potential habitat for the possum, 35% was burnt during the 2009 bush fires, with nearly half of the most valuable habitat being ravaged by the flames.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "exacerbated" when you want to emphasize that a situation was already bad and something made it even worse. Avoid using it as a simple synonym for "worsened" if the original state wasn't particularly negative.

Common error

Avoid using "exacerbated" when describing a situation that was neutral or positive to begin with. The term implies an existing negative condition that has been made worse.

Linguistic Context

The word "exacerbated" functions primarily as a verb in the past tense or as a past participle. It signifies the act of making a condition or situation worse than it already was. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "exacerbated" is a versatile verb that emphasizes the act of making an already negative situation worse. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in various contexts, particularly within news and media, scientific reports, and formal business communications. While alternatives like "worsened" and "aggravated" exist, "exacerbated" carries a specific connotation of pre-existing negativity. When using "exacerbated", ensure the context involves a situation that was already problematic to accurately convey its meaning. Common errors involve using the term when the initial state wasn't negative, so be precise in the context and tone. By following these guidelines, you can use the word "exacerbated" effectively to communicate a more severe worsening of events, as indicated by the numerous examples provided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

aggravated

Implies making something worse or more serious; similar to "exacerbated" but can also suggest annoyance.

worsened

A general term indicating a decline in quality or condition, closely related to "exacerbated".

intensified

Focuses on increasing the strength or degree of something, such as pain or conflict.

heightened

Suggests raising the level or intensity of something, often used for emotions or senses.

compounded

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

inflamed

Often used in medical contexts to describe increased swelling or irritation, but can be used metaphorically.

magnified

Suggests making something appear larger or more significant, often used for problems or issues.

aggravated the situation

Adds "the situation" to make clear what is affected.

intensified the effect

Adds "the effect" to make clear what is affected.

made matters worse

A more general and less formal way to express that a situation has become more problematic.

FAQs

How do I use "exacerbated" in a sentence?

Use "exacerbated" to describe something that makes an already negative situation worse. For example, "The lack of funding has exacerbated the problem" means the problem existed, and the lack of funding made it more severe.

What can I say instead of "exacerbated"?

You can use alternatives like "aggravated", "worsened", or "intensified" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "exacerbated" or "worsened"?

Both "exacerbated" and "worsened" can describe something becoming more negative, but "exacerbated" implies the situation was already negative, whereas "worsened" simply means something has become less good.

What's the difference between "exacerbated" and "aggravated"?

"Exacerbated" and "aggravated" are very similar, both meaning to make something worse. "Exacerbated" is often used in more formal or medical contexts, while "aggravated" can also mean to annoy or irritate someone.