HESI A2 Vocabulary Practice Test

The term "exacerbate" means to make a situation, typically a negative one, worse or more severe. Therefore, "aggravate" aligns perfectly with this definition, as it too refers to intensifying a problem or condition. When something is exacerbated, it is made more serious or painful, reinforcing the idea that exacerbation and aggravation share a commonality in their meaning related to worsening conditions.

The other options do not convey this meaning. "Exaggerate" refers to overstating or making something appear more significant than it is, which does not imply worsening a situation. "Outrage" involves a strong emotional reaction, often anger or shock, but does not pertain to worsening conditions either. Lastly, "alleviate" means to make something less severe, which is the opposite of what exacerbate describes. Therefore, the choice of "aggravate" as the meaning of "exacerbate" is accurate and directly reflects the word's definition.