verergerd

Verergerd is the Dutch past participle of the verb verergeren, meaning to aggravate or worsen something. It is used to indicate that a condition, situation, or set of symptoms has become more severe. In grammar, verergerd can function as a predicative adjective in compound tenses, or as an attributive adjective before a noun, where the form is often adapted to the noun phrase (for example, de verergerde toestand or verergerde symptomen).

Usage and nuances: Verergerd commonly appears in formal writing, medical reports, and news reports to describe deterioration or intensification. It signals that an existing problem has intensified rather than simply continuing. The related verb verslechteren is sometimes used with a similar meaning, but verergeren emphasizes explicit aggravation or escalation of a problem.

Examples:

- De situatie is verergerd door de aanhoudende stormen. (The situation has worsened due to the ongoing storms.)

- Verergerde symptomen vereisen aanvullende behandeling. (Aggravated/worsened symptoms require additional treatment.)

Etymology: Verergerd derives from ver-, a Dutch prefix meaning “to make worse,” combined with ergeren, which stems from older forms related to distress or trouble. The word is cognate with related Germanic terms such as German ärgern (to annoy) and Dutch ergeren (to annoy, distress).

See also: verergeren, verslechteren, to worsen, deterioration.