The word “exacerbate” means to make a problem, situation, or condition worse or more severe. It is often used to describe the act of intensifying or aggravating something negative.
Interesting fact: The word “exacerbate” comes from the Latin word “exacerbare,” which means “to irritate” or “to provoke.” It is derived from the combination of “ex-” (meaning “out”) and “acerbare” (meaning “to make harsh or bitter”).