Exacerbating: meaning, definitions and examples
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exacerbating
[ ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪtɪŋ ]
intensifying situation
Exacerbating refers to the act of making a bad situation worse. It is often used in contexts where an existing problem is aggravated by additional actions or factors.
Synonyms
aggravating, compounding, intensifying, worsening.
Examples of usage
- The new policy is exacerbating the situation for low-income families.
- Ignoring the issue only exacerbates the problem.
- The heavy rains are exacerbating the flooding in the area.
Translations
Translations of the word "exacerbating" in other languages:
🇵🇹 exacerbando
🇮🇳 बढ़ाना
🇩🇪 verschärfend
🇮🇩 memperburuk
🇺🇦 погіршуючи
🇵🇱 pogarszając
🇯🇵 悪化させる
🇫🇷 exacerbant
🇪🇸 exacerbando
🇹🇷 kötüleştiren
🇰🇷 악화시키는
🇸🇦 تفاقم
🇨🇿 zhoršující
🇸🇰 zhoršujúci
🇨🇳 加剧
🇸🇮 poslabšanje
🇮🇸 versna
🇰🇿 нашарлату
🇬🇪 გადამწვავება
🇦🇿 pisləşdirmək
🇲🇽 exacerbando
Etymology
The term 'exacerbate' originates from the Latin word 'exacerbatus,' which is the past participle of 'exacerbare,' meaning 'to make harsh or bitter.' This Latin term combines the prefix 'ex-' meaning 'out of' or 'away from' with 'acer' meaning 'sharp' or 'bitter.' The word entered the English language in the early 17th century, and has since evolved to convey the idea of increasing the severity of a situation or a problem. Originally, it was more commonly used in a medical context to describe the worsening of symptoms in patients, but its usage has broadened significantly. Modern usage includes a wide range of scenarios, including social, environmental, and political contexts where actions taken may lead to an increase in difficulty or suffering.