Understanding Exacerbate: Meaning, Synonyms, and Antonyms

Exacerbate means to make a problem, situation, or feeling worse or more severe. It can also mean to intensify or aggravate something that is already existing.
Example: "The stress of the project was exacerbated by the tight deadline."

Synonyms for exacerbate include:

* aggravate
* intensify
* worsen
* increase
* amplify
* heighten

Antonyms for exacerbate include:

* alleviate
* mitigate
* reduce
* soothe
* calm
* ease

Here are some example sentences using exacerbate:

1. The poor air quality in the city was exacerbated by the lack of rain.
2. Her anxiety was exacerbated by the pressure to perform well on the exam.
3. The injury was exacerbated by the player's failure to wear proper protective gear.
4. The conflict was exacerbated by the two sides' inability to find common ground.
5. The economic downturn has exacerbated the already high levels of unemployment.