Learn English – Antonym for ameliorate

antonymssingle-word-requests

I have been searching online for a particular word; that approximates to an antonym of ameliorate. I am after a specific word.

ameliorate verb

to make better
Synonyms ameliorate, amend, better, enhance, enrich, help, meliorate, perfect, refine, upgrade
Related Words correct, emend, rectify, reform, remediate, remedy; edit, fine-tune, redraft, refurbish, rehab, rehabilitate, revamp, revise, rework; beef (up), boost, fortify, intensify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; fine, hone, polish; retouch, touch up
Near Antonyms damage, endamage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, spoil, tarnish, vitiate; blemish, blight, deface, disfigure, flaw, mar; diminish, lessen, lower, reduce
Antonyms worsen

The word is eluding me… it sounds like detiliorate.. not deteriorate. My example is, probably, misleading, as my searches on google are not throwing up any alternative words.. So I'm probably way off base.

Anyone know the word I am trying to remember?

Best Answer

exacerbate

From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:

  exacerbate
      v 1: make worse; "This drug aggravates the pain" [syn: {worsen},
           {aggravate}, {exacerbate}, {exasperate}] [ant:
           {ameliorate}, {amend}, {better}, {improve}, {meliorate}]
      2: exasperate or irritate [syn: {exacerbate}, {exasperate},
         {aggravate}]
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