[tialaramex]

Usage note:

The monopolies were probably exacerbated, rather than exasperated, though /you/ might have been exasperated.

To exacerbate a thing is to make something that was bad, worse. You will usually exacerbate the _aspect_ that is bad, but you might also exacerbate a whole thing (such as a monopoly or a house fire) if the whole thing is in fact bad.

Whereas to exasperate is to irritate very intensely when action to sooth the irritation is frustrated. So if a young child is screaming and won't stop but you know hitting them is wrong, you may be exasperated.

[radicalbyte]

Thanks!

I've not had much sleep the last few weeks thanks to my newborn son so am making these kinds of silly mistakes.