Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

exacerbate

/ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.92 in modern English

Syllables: ex-acer-bate
IPA: /ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/

21

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

4

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

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

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Near-synonym: worsen"
"The proposed shutdown would exacerbate unemployment problems."
"Sino-Soviet relations were exacerbated by a border incident on May 9. Beijing charged that thirty Soviet troops, supported by a helicopter and navy boats, crossed the Ussuri River into the Hulin area of Heilongjiang province."
"Liz: It's just with Ed here, it's no wonder I always bring my flat-mates out and then that only exacerbates things. Shaun: What do you mean? Liz: Well you guys hardly get on, do you? Shaun: No, what does "exacerbate" mean?"
"The reasons for this growing disconnect are myriad and complex but the situation is exacerbated by the reality that those English players who do smash through our game's "glass ceiling" command radically inflated transfer fees."

Etymology

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”).

Origin

Source language: Latin
First known use: First attested in 1660

Word Breakdown

Root: *h₂eḱ-, exacerbō

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/
British English: /ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt/

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

exacerbates (present, singular) exacerbating (participle, present) exacerbated (participle, past) exacerbated (past)

Derived Forms

exacerbatingly exacerbation exacerbator exacerbatory unexacerbated

Frequently Paired Words

acerbate exacervation exasperate intensify deteriorate

Synonyms

aggravate worsen exasperate

Questions

How do you pronounce exacerbate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/.
What does exacerbate mean?: To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.).
Where does exacerbate come from?: It is traced to Latin. First known use: First attested in 1660.

How to pronounce exacerbate

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