обостря́ть — meaning in English

English meaning

• aggravate verb To make a bad situation, problem, or injury worse.
• escalate verb To increase in intensity, size, or seriousness.
• whet verb To sharpen a blade or tool by rubbing it against a stone.

Senses

обостря́ть is used for these senses in English:

• aggravate To make (an offence) worse or more severe; to increase in offensiveness or heinousness. [from 16th c.]
• escalate (ambitransitive) To increase (something) in extent or intensity; to intensify or step up.
• whet (transitive) To stimulate or make more keen.

aggravate — full definition

1. verb To make a bad situation, problem, or injury worse.
2. verb To annoy or irritate someone.

escalate — full definition

1. verb To increase in intensity, size, or seriousness.
2. verb To pass a problem or issue on to someone with greater authority to handle it.

Related Russian words