exacerbating

VERB

infuriate; make worse

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aggravate annoy heighten inflame intensify irritate provoke worsen

STRONG

embitter enrage envenom exasperate excite increase madden vex

WEAK

add insult to injury egg on fan the flames feed the fire go from bad to worse heat up hit on push one's button rattle one's cage rub salt in a wound

Antonyms

STRONGEST

aid alleviate appease calm delight help improve make happy please soothe

STRONG

comfort compose pacify placate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Exacerbating investors’ action bias wouldn’t be so dangerous to your wealth if investing was a pursuit in which doing something — anything — is better than doing nothing.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Exacerbating those concerns is a new battery storage site proposed in an unincorporated part of Santa Cruz County near Watsonville.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2025

Exacerbating the reef's plight are unusually warm seas experienced over the summer, which fuelled widespread coral bleaching across the Caribbean.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2023

Exacerbating problems posed by a diminished river flow is sea level rise.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 5, 2023

Exacerbating these conflicts were tensions among the subject peoples of the Romanov, Hapsburg and Ottoman empires.

From Century of Light by Baha'i International Community