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exacerbate problems

[ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt ˈprɑːbləmz]
verb phrase
agravar problemas
1. to make a problem or difficult situation worse or more severe
The lack of communication only served to exacerbate problems between the two departments.
A falta de comunicação apenas serviu para agravar os problemas entre os dois departamentos.
2. to intensify or increase the severity of an existing issue
Poor management decisions exacerbate problems in the company.
Decisões de gestão inadequadas agravam os problemas da empresa.
NYC Slang
make things worse
Synonyms
worsen problemsintensify problemscompound problemsescalate problemsamplify problems
Antonyms
resolve problemsalleviate problemsmitigate problemsimprove problems

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
agravar problemas
most common usage across Brazil
São Paulo
piorar os problemas
alternative colloquial usage
Portugal
agravar problemas
standard European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

add fuel to the fire
make matters worse
pour oil on troubled waters (negative context)
compound the issue
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