as in to worsen
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exacerbate
The problem is exacerbated by how left-handed heavy the Twins’ current roster is.
—
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
In addition to worries about exacerbating water problems, there is increasing concerns about drinking water from wells and whether pesticides used at the driving range might contaminate them, Harper said.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
The most recent budget crunches have been characterized by the majority Democrats as a battle against a structural deficit exacerbated by the constraints of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
There was little appetite for a strike this time around, which would only exacerbate the global contraction in the industry.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
In addition to worries about exacerbating water problems, there is increasing concerns about drinking water from wells and whether pesticides used at the driving range might contaminate them, Harper said.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
The most recent budget crunches have been characterized by the majority Democrats as a battle against a structural deficit exacerbated by the constraints of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
There was little appetite for a strike this time around, which would only exacerbate the global contraction in the industry.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
-
Deaths have suddenly spiked among the feral horses living on an isolated North Carolina island, and researchers say it’s linked to rising sea level and worsening coastal erosion.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This leads to a vicious cycle, as the disease causes sleep disruption, and sleep disruption then worsens the disease, according to the researchers.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Self-reflection is currently an ideal way to deepen our connections.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Sharing these discoveries with fellow gardeners deepens our sense of connection and joy.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Triggering Ingredients Certain components of protein powder may aggravate the symptoms of medical disorders.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
-
My ila facial was pure joy—no painful extraction or aggravating scrubs here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rumours of a temporary switch to Girona intensified in the Spanish media.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Disagreements with the board are a routine part of C-suite life, but the transformative potential of AI—and the speed at which successful companies are moving from experimentation to application—has intensified the pressure significantly.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Right now, marketers are still trying to get a read on how economic conditions may shake out, and there won’t be much clarity in the ad market until budgets are registered—a process that itself will be complicated by the ongoing geopolitical upheavals.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Another complicating factor is software.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
