Verb
/exˈæs.ɚ.beɪt/
The word "exacerbate" means to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse or more severe. It is often used in contexts involving health, conflict, or emotional distress. "Exacerbate" is a formal term that is more common in written contexts, such as academic or professional writing, but can also appear in spoken language, particularly in discussions about serious issues.
"Exacerbate" is moderately frequent in English, especially in fields like medicine, social sciences, and environmental discussions.
The lack of sleep can exacerbate anxiety symptoms.
La falta de sueño puede exacerbar los síntomas de ansiedad.
The government's failure to act could exacerbate the ongoing crisis.
La falta de acción del gobierno podría exacerbar la crisis en curso.
Poor communication can exacerbate misunderstandings among team members.
La mala comunicación puede exacerbar los malentendidos entre los miembros del equipo.
"Exacerbate" is not commonly used in established idiomatic expressions, but it often appears in phrases that highlight worsening conditions, particularly in formal or academic contexts. Here are some sentences demonstrating its usage within potential idiomatic-like contexts:
Ignoring the warning signs will only exacerbate the problem down the road.
Ignorar las señales de advertencia solo exacerbará el problema más adelante.
Fueling the debate with half-truths may exacerbate divisions within the community.
Alimentar el debate con verdades a medias puede exacerbar las divisiones dentro de la comunidad.
The constant noise from construction work seems to exacerbate his migraine.
El constante ruido del trabajo de construcción parece exacerbar su migraña.
Unresolved conflicts can exacerbate relationships, leading to further issues.
Los conflictos no resueltos pueden exacerbar las relaciones, lo que lleva a más problemas.
Rising temperatures will exacerbate water scarcity in the region.
El aumento de las temperaturas exacerbará la escasez de agua en la región.
His dismissive attitude tends to exacerbate her feelings of inadequacy.
Su actitud despectiva tiende a exacerbar sus sentimientos de insuficiencia.
The term "exacerbate" comes from the Latin verb "exacerbāre," which means "to make bitter" or "to irritate." It is composed of the prefix "ex-" meaning "out of, from" and "acerbāre," which derives from "acerbus," meaning "harsh, bitter."