Which verb means to make a problem or situation worse?

• A. Mitigate
• B. Complicate
• C. Exacerbate
• D. Resolve

Answer: (C)

This item tests understanding of a verb that describes making a problem or situation worse by increasing its severity. Exacerbate means to worsen something, to intensify trouble or damage rather than simply add complexity or rarity. It captures the idea of turning a smaller issue into a bigger one through actions or neglect. For example, neglecting maintenance can exacerbate a leak into a flood, or heated arguments can be exacerbated by insults, leading to a larger conflict. The other options don’t fit as precisely: mitigate means to lessen harm, reduce the impact; complicate means to make something more difficult or intricate, which isn’t necessarily tied to increasing harm; resolve means to fix or settle the issue, removing the problem. So, the word that best fits the prompt is the one that indicates making the problem worse.