What is the antonym of “cure”?
The antonyms of cure are cause, aggravate, and worsen. The antonyms cause, aggravate, and worsen convey a negative or harmful effect. It implies that the condition or situation is getting worse or more severe.
Brief Definitions of the Antonym(s)
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cause
To make something happen, especially something bad or unpleasant.
Example
Smoking can cause lung cancer.
aggravate
To make a problem or situation worse or more serious.
Example
The lack of rain will aggravate the drought conditions.
worsen
To become or make something become worse.
Example
The patient's condition began to worsen after the surgery.
How are these antonyms different from each other?
- 1Cause refers to the action of making something happen, especially something bad or unpleasant.
- 2Aggravate means to make a problem or situation worse or more serious.
- 3Worsen means to become or make something become worse.
Good things to know
- 1Enhance Communication: Use cause, aggravate, and worsen to describe the negative effects of a situation or action.
- 2Medical Context: Use these antonyms in medical contexts to describe the progression of a disease or condition.
- 3Environmental Context: Use these antonyms in environmental contexts to describe the worsening of a situation such as pollution or climate change.
Remember this!
The antonyms have distinct nuances: Cause refers to the action of making something happen, aggravate means to make a problem or situation worse, and worsen means to become or make something become worse. Use these words to enhance communication, describe the negative effects of a situation or action, and in medical or environmental contexts to describe the progression or worsening of a disease or situation.
