as in to worsen
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
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Recent Examples of exacerbate
Friday night’s rains may exacerbate conditions in local rivers at risk of flooding, Donofrio said.
—
Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Both of those events exacerbate Robby’s unexamined childhood traumas, and in season two, all of it should come together in a downward spiral extending across the whole shift.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Measures to prevent the island from acquiring oil from its Venezuelan, Mexican and Russian suppliers are exacerbating the already poor living conditions of the population, including prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
This propulsive documentary follows Climate Defiance and founder Michael Greenberg’s unabashedly disruptive protests, expressing their fervent and urgent demands for climate action in the spaces — and faces — of industry executives and politicians exacerbating the crisis.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Both of those events exacerbate Robby’s unexamined childhood traumas, and in season two, all of it should come together in a downward spiral extending across the whole shift.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
Measures to prevent the island from acquiring oil from its Venezuelan, Mexican and Russian suppliers are exacerbating the already poor living conditions of the population, including prolonged blackouts and fuel shortages.
—ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
This propulsive documentary follows Climate Defiance and founder Michael Greenberg’s unabashedly disruptive protests, expressing their fervent and urgent demands for climate action in the spaces — and faces — of industry executives and politicians exacerbating the crisis.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
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Some passengers took to social media, describing long delays, limited updates and worsening conditions onboard as the situation unfolded.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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On May 3, Belle’s condition worsened, and she was euthanized.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Haiti, the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, has been hit the hardest by rising oil prices that experts warn will deepen a spiraling humanitarian crisis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The appointment comes as Rapha continues to expand its global community of riders and Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) members and deepen its presence in competitive cycling.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Loperfido aggravated his quad running to first base on a ground out in Friday’s game against the Cardinals and underwent imaging Saturday.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
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What led up to this alert Cheboygan is one of several areas of concern in Michigan, where snowmelt from winter storms aggravated by additional rain overtook riverbanks and low-lying areas.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The army's seizure of power intensified longstanding armed resistance in Myanmar, as pro-democracy activists joined with ethnic armed groups that had been battling for decades for greater autonomy, leading to a civil war still affecting most of the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
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As the smell intensified, Lina crossed to the front door of her apartment, undid the lock, and yanked the sticky door open.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The relationship between Dallas police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement has long been complicated, drawing criticism from both state leaders and community advocates.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
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See video … LISTEN Tune in as rising gas and grocery costs complicate midterm messaging amid new tax refund claims and escalating global pressure campaigns.—
,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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