exacerbate

verb

Etymology: 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”).

1. To make worse (a problem, bad situation, negative feeling, etc.).

   “Near-synonym: worsen”

   “The proposed shutdown would exacerbate unemployment problems.”