exacerbate

Meanings

Verb

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

Origin / 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”).

Synonyms

aggravate, exasperate, worsen

Antonyms

better

Scrabble Score: 21

exacerbate is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
exacerbate is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
exacerbate is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 23

exacerbate is a valid Words With Friends word