exacerbate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make worse
    worsen; aggravate; exasperate.
    • This drug aggravates the pain
  2. verb exasperate or irritate
    aggravate; exasperate.

WordNet

Ex*ac"er*bate transitive verb
Etymology
L. exacerbatus, p. p. of exacerbare; ex out (intens.) + acerbare. See Acerbate.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Exacerrated ; present participle & verbal noun Exacerrating
Definitions
  1. To render more violent or bitter; to irriate; to exasperate; to imbitter, as passions or disease. Broughman.

Webster 1913