EXACERBATE

worsen, aggravate, exacerbate, exasperate

(verb) make worse; “This drug aggravates the pain”

exacerbate, exasperate, aggravate

(verb) exasperate or irritate

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Verb

exacerbate (third-person singular simple present exacerbates, present participle exacerbating, simple past and past participle exacerbated)

(transitive) To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.); aggravate.

Source: Wiktionary

Ex*ac"er*bate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exacerrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Exacerrating.] Etym: [L. exacerbatus, p. p. of exacerbare; ex out (intens.) + acerbare. See Acerbate.]

Definition: To render more violent or bitter; to irriate; to exasperate; to imbitter, as passions or disease. Broughman.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition