Main Entry:

ex·ac·er·bate

Pronunciation:

\ig-ˈza-sər-ˌbāt\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

ex·ac·er·bat·ed; ex·ac·er·bat·ing

Etymology:

Latin exacerbatus, past participle of exacerbare, from ex- + acerbus harsh, bitter, from acer sharp — more at edge

Date:

1660

: to make more violent, bitter, or severe <the proposed shutdown…would exacerbate unemployment problems — Science>

— ex·ac·er·ba·tion \-ˌza-sər-ˈbā-shən\ noun