Exacerbateto make a problem or difficult situation worse is a verb. In everyday English, it most often means to make a problem or difficult situation worse. It can also mean to irritateto annoy or bother someone or annoy someone, though that sense is less commonfrequently occurring; not rare.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌɛk.səˈsɝː.beɪt/
Easy pronunciation: ek-suh-SUR-bayt (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the third syllable, SUR; secondary stress on the first syllable.
Used in the sense of making a problem or condition worse.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Exacerbate Meaning
to make something worse
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to make a problem, situation, or condition worse
Example: Lack of sleep can exacerbate stress.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- worsen — A clear substitute in the main everyday sense.
- aggravate — Commonly used with the same meaning in this sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Exacerbate
Meaning 2
to annoy or irritate someone
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to exasperate or irritate
Example: Her repeated interruptions began to exacerbate the manager.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- exasperate — A direct substitute in the irritate sense.
- aggravate — Can mean irritate in some contexts, but is more often used for making something worse.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Exacerbate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- worsen
- aggravate
to irritate or exasperate
- exasperate
- aggravate
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People often use exacerbate to mean only "make worse," but it can also mean "irritate" in some contexts.
- Do not confuse exacerbate with exasperate; they are related, but exasperate means to annoy or frustrate someone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does exacerbate mean?
It usually means to make a problem or condition worse. In some contexts, it also means to irritate or annoy someone.
What are the synonyms of exacerbate?
Common synonyms include worsen and aggravate for the main sense, and exasperate for the irritate sense.
Is exacerbate the same as exasperate?
Not exactly. Exacerbate usually means to make something worse, while exasperate means to annoy or frustrate someone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.