Definitions
- Referring to a situation that is made worse or more severe. - Talking about a condition or disease that is aggravated or intensified. - Describing an action that increases the intensity or severity of something negative.
- Referring to an action that incites or causes a reaction, often negative. - Talking about a behavior or attitude that irritates or annoys someone. - Describing a situation that triggers a response or emotion.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe actions that cause negative effects.
- 2Both words imply that the situation was not ideal to begin with.
- 3Both words can be used in reference to people or situations.
- 4Both words suggest a cause-and-effect relationship.
What is the difference?
- 1Intensity: Exacerbate implies a worsening or intensification of a negative situation, while provoke suggests a more immediate and direct cause-and-effect relationship.
- 2Emotion: Provoke often involves triggering a strong emotional response, while exacerbate may not necessarily involve emotions.
- 3Focus: Exacerbate focuses on the negative outcome, while provoke emphasizes the action that caused the negative outcome.
- 4Usage: Exacerbate is more commonly used in medical or technical contexts, while provoke is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations.
- 5Connotation: Exacerbate has a more formal and serious connotation, while provoke can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Remember this!
Exacerbate and provoke are both verbs that describe actions that cause negative outcomes. However, exacerbate implies a worsening or intensification of a negative situation, while provoke suggests a more immediate and direct cause-and-effect relationship. Additionally, exacerbate is more commonly used in medical or technical contexts, while provoke is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations.
