Expand Your Vocabulary: Exacerbate

ex-ac-er-bate [ig-zas-er-beyt, ek-sas-]
-VERB (used with object), -bated, -bating.

*to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.

*to embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate.


synonyms: intensify, inflame, worsen.