/ ɪgˈzæsəbeɪt; NAmE ɪgˈzæsərb-/ verb
[ vn ] ( formal ) to make sth worse, especially a disease or problem
SYN aggravate :
The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs.
► ex·acer·ba·tion noun [ U , C ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin exacerbat- made harsh, from the verb exacerbare , from ex- (expressing inducement of a state) + acerbus harsh, bitter. The noun exacerbation ( late Middle English ) originally meant provocation to anger .