"Exacerbated" Natural Recordings by Native Speakers
Exacerbated is a verb that means to make a bad situation or a problem worse. For example: "The heat wave exacerbated the city's already poor air quality, causing widespread respiratory issues." It can also mean to intensify or increase the severity of something, such as an injury, a feeling, or a situation.
To exacerbate something means to make a situation, a problem, or a bad feeling worse. This can be done by taking an action that adds to an existing difficulty, or by making a situation more complicated or intense. Examples of exacerbate include adding fuel to a fire, making a wound more painful, or increasing the seriousness of a situation.