v.
Pronunciation: ig- ' za-s ə r- ˌ b ā t
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -bat · ed ; -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 \ - ˌ za-s ə r- ' b ā -sh ə n \ noun