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exacerbate the situation
/ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt ðə sɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/
make a problem worse
His careless remarks only exacerbated the situation.
His careless remarks made the problem worse.
formal
To make a bad situation even worse by adding to its severity or difficulty.
The government's decision to raise taxes exacerbated the economic crisis.
The government's decision to raise taxes made the economic crisis worse.
Arguing with the customer only exacerbated the situation.
Arguing with the customer made the situation worse.
Often used in formal or professional contexts to describe worsening conditions.
Collocations
exacerbate tensionsmake tensions worseexacerbate the problemmake the problem worse
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Formal Usage
Use this phrase in formal writing or professional settings to describe worsening conditions.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
Use this phrase sparingly to maintain its impact in formal writing.
Word Origin
From Latin 'exacerbāre' (to make bitter or harsh) + 'situation' (from Latin 'situātiō').
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in formal writing and professional contexts to describe the worsening of a situation.
Word Breakdown
exacerbate
to make worse
verbthe situation
the current state of affairs
noun phraseEnglish Dictionary