Which verb means to worsen a problem or situation?

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

Answer: (B)

Describing how a problem gets worse relies on a verb that means to make something more severe. Exacerbate means to intensify or aggravate a problem or situation. It’s the best fit because it directly communicates that the issue is being worsened, not just addressed or clarified. For example, neglecting a small leak can exacerbate water damage, or adding unhelpful policies can exacerbate inflation. The other options point in different directions: mitigate means to lessen the severity, resolve means to find a solution, and clarify means to make something clearer. So the word that most precisely conveys worsening is exacerbate.