Exacerbate means to make something worse or more intense. Therefore, antonyms for exacerbate are words that denote making things better or calming things down. Some of the antonyms for exacerbate include soothe, alleviate, pacify, dull, assuage, mitigate, ease, and relieve. These words all indicate actions that reduce stress or tension. For example, a soothing balm can alleviate the pain of a burn or insect bite. A pacifying teacher can calm a classroom full of agitated students. Mitigating circumstances can reduce the severity of a punishment. It is important to choose antonyms for exacerbate to promote positive outcomes, rather than exacerbating already challenging situations.