exacerbate
To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
writing-task-2readingEnvironmentHealth
IELTS use
Used to discuss how one factor worsens another in cause-and-effect arguments.
Examples
- Pollution can exacerbate respiratory conditions.
- Overcrowding exacerbates the spread of infectious diseases.
Collocations
- exacerbate the problem
- Deforestation exacerbates the problem of soil erosion.
Word family
- Noun
- exacerbation
- Verb
- exacerbate
- Adjective
- exacerbating
Paraphrases
- worsen: More common but less formal.
- compound: Often used with 'problem' or 'issue'.
- aggravate: Common in health contexts.
Common mistakes
- exacerbate on the issue to exacerbate the issue. The verb is transitive; no preposition needed.
- exacerbate the situation to become worse to exacerbate the situation. 'Exacerbate' already implies making worse; redundant.