exacerbate
Verb
Medium difficulty
What does “exacerbate” mean?
verb.to make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
SAT Usage
exacerbate is often found in passages discussing social issues, environmental concerns, or personal conflicts. It emphasizes the idea of intensifying existing problems, suggesting a compounding effect rather than mere deterioration, which distinguishes it from words like "aggravate," that can imply annoyance rather than worsening a significant issue.
Common Confusions
Exacerbate implies intensifying a significant problem or negative situation, while aggravate usually suggests merely causing annoyance or irritation without necessarily worsening the core issue.
Example Sentences
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The proposed shutdown would exacerbate unemployment problems.
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The heavy rains were expected to exacerbate the flooding situation, prompting officials to issue warnings to residents in low-lying areas.
Word Parts: How to Remember “exacerbate”
Break “exacerbate” into its parts: ex- (out of, from). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.
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Prefix:
ex-out of, from (Latin)