exacerbate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.).

   Near-synonym: worsen.

First attested in 1660; borrowed from Latin exacerbātus, perfect passive participle of Latin exacerbō (“to provoke”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out of; thoroughly”) + acerbō (“to embitter, harshen or worsen”).

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