exacerbated

[/ɪɡˈzæs.ər.beɪ.tɪd/]
verb (past tense/past participle) / adjective
agravado / exacerbado / intensificado
1. made worse or more severe; intensified in a negative way
The drought exacerbated the food shortage in the region.
A seca agravou a escassez de alimentos na região.
2. increased in intensity, bitterness, or violence
Poor communication exacerbated the conflict between the two parties.
A falta de comunicação exacerbou o conflito entre as duas partes.
3. irritated or annoyed to a greater degree
His rude comments exacerbated her frustration.
Os seus comentários rudes agravaram a frustração dela.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'agravado' is far more commonly used in everyday speech than the more formal 'exacerbado.' The word is frequently used in news media, medical contexts, and social discussions about problems or conflicts. In American English, 'exacerbated' is common in formal writing, news reports, and professional settings, whereas casual speech might use simpler terms like 'made it worse.'
NYC Slang
made it worse / cranked it up / took it to the next level
Synonyms / Sinônimos
aggravatedworsenedintensifiedinflamedcompoundedheightened
Antonyms / Antônimos
alleviatedamelioratedmitigatedimprovedeaseddiminished

Regional Variations

General Brazilian Portuguese
agravado / agravou-se
most common and widely understood translation
São Paulo
agravado / piorado
both terms used frequently in urban contexts
Rio de Janeiro
agravado
preferred in formal and informal speech
Portugal
agravado / exacerbado
exacerbado is more technical; agravado is colloquial

Related Words

exacerbateexacerbationaggravateworsenintensifyinflammatory

Related Idioms & Phrases

add fuel to the fire
pour oil on troubled waters (antonym - to calm exacerbated situations)
make matters worse
add insult to injury
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