What's a word for making things worse?

exacerbate. For a formal-sounding verb that means to make worse, try exacerbate. If you're in trouble, complaining about it will only exacerbate the problem. Exacerbate is related to the adjective acrid, often used to describe sharp-smelling smoke.

This is answered comprehensively here. Subsequently, one may also ask, what does the word exacerbate?

verb (used with object), ex·ac·er·bat·ed, ex·ac·er·bat·ing. to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate. to embitter the feelings of (a person); irritate; exasperate.

Similarly, how do you use exacerbate in a sentence? exacerbate Sentence Examples

  1. He wanted desperately to put his arms around her but knew he'd just exacerbate the situation.
  2. He was largely responsible for the Scandinavian Seven Years' War (1562-70), which did so much to exacerbate the relations between Denmark and Sweden.

Likewise, people ask, what is the one word substitution for make worse?

More than 1000 One Word Substitution

One Word Substitution : A
One Word Sentence
Aggravate To make worse
Aglophoble A person who hates England
Agonostic One who thinks that everything is know through god only.

What is the synonym of worse?

Synonyms & Near Synonyms for worse. inferior, lesser, worst.