Library / English Dictionary

EXACERBATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make worse

Example:

This drug aggravates the pain

Synonyms:

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "exacerbate" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exacerbate"):

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

inflame (cause inflammation in)

cheapen; degrade (lower the grade of something; reduce its worth)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

exacerbation (action that makes a problem or a disease (or its symptoms) worse)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Exasperate or irritate

Synonyms:

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "exacerbate" is one way to...):

anger (make angry)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

exacerbation (violent and bitter exasperation)

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