exacerbation
Aggravation of conditions
Exacerbation is a worsening or intensification of something already bad—a disease, conflict, or problem: The cold weather caused an exacerbation of her asthma.
Medical contexts use it frequently for flare-ups of chronic conditions.
The verb is exacerbate.
Process of declining quality
- aggravationState of being vexed
- declineDecrease or refuse
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- relapseReturn to former illness
progression · degradation · degeneration · flare-up · setback · downturn · regression · backslide
Increasing in degree
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
- increaseGrowth in amount
surge · spike · upsurge · compounding · strengthening · deepening · acceleration · multiplication
What initiates action
- irritantSource of vexation
- stressorStrain-inducing factor
- catalystAgent enabling change
- aggravatorOne who exacerbates
stimulus · instigator · irritation · antagonism · inflammation · incitement · agitation · contributing factor
deterioration
Process of declining quality
- aggravationState of being vexed
- declineDecrease or refuse
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
relapse · progression · degradation · degeneration · flare-up · setback · downturn · regression · backslide · deepening
heightening
Increasing in degree
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
increase · surge · spike · upsurge · compounding · strengthening · deepening · acceleration · multiplication · proliferation
trigger
What initiates action
aggravator · stimulus · instigator · irritation · antagonism · inflammation · incitement · agitation · contributing factor · precipitant
- medical termsdiagnosis, disorder, surgery, disease, illness
- flare-upsflare-up, relapse, outbreak, episode, attack
- medical stagesacute phase, recovery phase, late stage, early-stage, advanced stage
- declinesdrop, decline, downtrend, downturn, downfall
- intensificationamplification, escalation, heightening, intensification, magnification
- lung diseaseasthma, COPD, emphysema, bronchitis, chronic bronchitis
exacerbationamelioration
Making something less bad
improvement · alleviation · mitigation · betterment · lessening
exacerbationrelief
Easing of distress
comfort · soothing · palliation · assuagement · solace