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What's the word for makes things worse?
The word you're looking for
Exacerbate means to make something bad worse or more serious. It's commonly used in professional, academic, and formal contexts when discussing problems, conflicts, or illnesses that become more severe.
Other words that fit
Use in informal contexts when the 'make worse' meaning is clear, since aggravate can also mean 'annoy.'
Use this simpler synonym in everyday English when you want a more direct, less formal alternative.
Use in formal writing to emphasize that something adds to and intensifies an existing problem.
Use when describing how a conflict, crisis, or situation becomes more serious, intense, or widespread.
Why this word
Exacerbate is a formal English word meaning to make something already bad become worse or more serious. It's commonly used in professional, academic, and journalistic contexts when discussing problems, conflicts, illnesses, or other negative situations that worsen. The word comes from Latin and appears frequently in medicine, law, and policy discussions. A common mistake is confusing it with "aggravate," which in modern English can mean either "to make worse" or "to annoy"—exacerbate is always unambiguous. For Indian English and global ESL learners, exacerbate is valued for its precision and formality in professional writing.
In context
- Poor diet can exacerbate existing health problems.
- The conflict was exacerbated by miscommunication between the teams.
- Adding stress to the situation only exacerbated the crisis.
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between exacerbate and aggravate?
- Exacerbate specifically means to make something worse. Aggravate can mean the same thing, but in modern English it often means 'to annoy or irritate someone.' For clarity, use exacerbate when you mean 'worsen.'
- Can you use exacerbate in past tense?
- Yes, the past tense is 'exacerbated.' Example: 'The rain exacerbated the flooding problem.' You can also use 'exacerbating' as the present participle form.
- Is exacerbate too formal for everyday conversation?
- Yes, it is quite formal. You'd mainly use it in writing, professional settings, or serious discussions. In casual conversation, 'make worse' or 'worsen' sounds more natural.
- What's the simplest synonym for exacerbate?
- 'Worsen' or 'make worse' are simpler alternatives with the same exact meaning. Both work well in everyday English.