as in worsening
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
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Recent Examples of exacerbating
Prior federal probes also looked at whether Tesla's Autopilot system may have been exacerbating human driver behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision.
—
Keith Laing, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
This has led to a pattern of unlawful detentions and mass deportations, creating a climate of fear and exacerbating the 'chilling effect' for migrant communities and for international students across schools and campuses.
—Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Alongside the lock-in effect, construction has failed to make up for a years-long shortage of new homes, exacerbating the shortfall.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Addiction often is rooted in exacerbating factors like anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic stress and pain.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Demographic shifts and changes in immigration policy are also exacerbating the fiscal strain.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
There is a consensus in the scientific community that human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, is heating up the planet, exacerbating extreme weather.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
State funding reductions in healthcare are exacerbating the issue.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Longer styles tend to work best on those with medium to thick hair densities, while exacerbating fine and thin hair.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
Keith Laing, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
This has led to a pattern of unlawful detentions and mass deportations, creating a climate of fear and exacerbating the 'chilling effect' for migrant communities and for international students across schools and campuses.
—Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Alongside the lock-in effect, construction has failed to make up for a years-long shortage of new homes, exacerbating the shortfall.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Addiction often is rooted in exacerbating factors like anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic stress and pain.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Demographic shifts and changes in immigration policy are also exacerbating the fiscal strain.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
There is a consensus in the scientific community that human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, is heating up the planet, exacerbating extreme weather.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
State funding reductions in healthcare are exacerbating the issue.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Longer styles tend to work best on those with medium to thick hair densities, while exacerbating fine and thin hair.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbating
Verb
-
International airlines are suspending flights to Cuba as the nation continues to face a worsening fuel shortage.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Poor and minority communities face worsening health risks including cancer, asthma and extreme heat exposure from industrial facilities and climate change impacts.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, the companies’ deepening relationship points to confidence that smart glasses can be a goldmine and any differences can be worked out.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
His latest proposal would involve deepening ties between the European Union and the CPTPP, a Pacific trade organization.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Olympics include an extra complicating factor because the closing ceremony was scheduled immediately after the gold-medal game.—
Chris Johnston,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Mamdani cited the 28-30 inches of snow that fell, and pointed to the narrow streets on Staten Island as factors complicating the cleanup.—
Aziza Shuler,
CBS News,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbating. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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