EXACERBATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does exacerbation mean? 

• EXACERBATION (noun)
  The noun EXACERBATION has 2 senses:

1. action that makes a problem or a disease (or its symptoms) worse

2. violent and bitter exasperation

  Familiarity information: EXACERBATION used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EXACERBATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Action that makes a problem or a disease (or its symptoms) worse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

aggravation; exacerbation

Context example:

the aggravation of her condition resulted from lack of care

Hypernyms ("exacerbation" is a kind of...):

intensification (action that makes something stronger or more extreme)

Derivation:

exacerbate (make worse)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Violent and bitter exasperation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

his foolishness was followed by an exacerbation of their quarrel

Hypernyms ("exacerbation" is a kind of...):

exasperation (actions that cause great irritation (or even anger))

Derivation:

exacerbate (exasperate or irritate)

 Context examples 

It is usually seen during exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease.

(Chronic Active Colitis, NCI Thesaurus)

A condition causing exacerbation of the clinical features of neurofibromatosis.

(Aggravated Neurofibromatosis, NCI Thesaurus)