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Reinforce vs Exacerbate - What's the difference?

reinforce | exacerbate |

In lang=en terms the difference between reinforce and exacerbate

is that reinforce is to encourage a behavior or idea through repeated stimulus while exacerbate is to make worse (pain, anger, etc); aggravate.

As verbs the difference between reinforce and exacerbate

is that reinforce is (senseid)to strengthen, especially by addition or augmentation while exacerbate is to make worse (pain, anger, etc); aggravate.

reinforce

English

Verb

(reinforc)
  • (senseid)To strengthen, especially by addition or augmentation.
    • He reinforced the handle with a metal rod and a bit of tape.
  • To emphasize or review.
    • The right homework will reinforce and complement the lesson!
  • To encourage a behavior or idea through repeated stimulus.
    • ''Advertising for fast food can reinforce unhealthy dietary tendencies.

    Synonyms

    * (l) * (l) * (strengthen) strengthen, augment, fortify, buttress, bolster, line * (emphasize) emphasize, review, repeat * (encourage) encourage, reward, instruct, teach, learn

    exacerbate

    English

    Verb

    (exacerbat)
  • To make worse (pain, anger, etc.); aggravate.
    • The proposed shutdown would exacerbate unemployment problems.
  • * 2013 , Louise Taylor, English talent gets left behind as Premier League keeps importing'' (in ''The Guardian , 20 August 2013)[http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/aug/19/english-talent-premier-league-importing]
    • The reasons for this growing disconnect are myriad and complex but the situation is exacerbated by the reality that those English players who do smash through our game's "glass ceiling" command radically inflated transfer fees.

    Derived terms

    * exacerbatingly * exacerbation

    See also

    * exasperate ----