How to pronounce exacerbate
Say it like ig-ZAS-er-bayt. Exacerbate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce exacerbate. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ig
- ZAS
- er
- bayt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Exacerbate pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- igKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ZASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- baytGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of exacerbate
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ig-ZAS-uh-bayt.
What does exacerbate mean?
- To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.).“The proposed shutdown would exacerbate unemployment problems.”
Where does exacerbate come from?
First attested in 1660; borrowed from Latin exacerbātus, perfect passive participle of Latin exacerbō (“to provoke”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out of; thoroughly”) + acerbō (“to embitter, harshen or worsen”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying exacerbate
How do you pronounce exacerbate?
Say ig-ZAS-er-bayt. The American pronunciation is /ɪɡˈzæsɚˌbeɪt/. In British English it is /ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in exacerbate?
Exacerbate has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAS). Broken into parts: ig · ZAS · er · bayt.
Is exacerbate pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ɪɡˈzæsəˌbeɪt/ (ig-ZAS-uh-bayt).