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
These changes can exacerbate symptoms that were previously well-controlled.
—
Carol Mathews, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
The vast majority of those discards wind up in the trash, further exacerbating the avocado’s environmental impact.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
But Hairston warns the lack of protections against silica dust will exacerbate problems in the industry by threatening a labor shortage, because younger workers in an aging workforce are now getting black lung.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
The need for replacements was extreme and exacerbated as battle casualties in the European theater increased from 31,617 in October 1944 to 77,726 in December and non-battle casualties from 28,364 to 56,695.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Carol Mathews, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025
The vast majority of those discards wind up in the trash, further exacerbating the avocado’s environmental impact.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025
But Hairston warns the lack of protections against silica dust will exacerbate problems in the industry by threatening a labor shortage, because younger workers in an aging workforce are now getting black lung.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
The need for replacements was extreme and exacerbated as battle casualties in the European theater increased from 31,617 in October 1944 to 77,726 in December and non-battle casualties from 28,364 to 56,695.
—Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
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The Indiana Daily Student has over $400,000 to spend, but the former adviser of the paper said administrators hamstrung his ability to use those funds, worsening the newspaper's deficit spending.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
17 Oct. 2025
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Knee osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease causing pain, swelling and stiffness in the knees that worsens over time.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For some, Munir’s prominent role in deepening ties with the US have resurfaced fears about the military’s influence on Pakistan’s political landscape.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
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Meanwhile, Bulgari deepened its cultural engagement with India by bringing the Serpenti Infinito Exhibition to the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) in Mumbai — its third global stop.—
Mayu Saini,
Footwear News,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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These payments, which are tax-free, are intended for veterans whose disabilities are connected to illnesses, injuries, or events that developed or were aggravated during active duty.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
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Smith missed last week’s win over NC State and aggravated his calf strain in the first quarter against Boise State.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The dispute underscores an intensifying divide within the Democratic Party between establishment forces aligned with major donors and progressives who say those same networks are shutting out grassroots women candidates.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Oct. 2025
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The tech titan has intensified its efforts to bolster affordable housing in recent years.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Amid the aftermath, as aid groups and Taliban bureaucrats were assisting those injured and left homeless by the earthquake, other Taliban officials twice suspended most internet and cellular reception throughout Afghanistan, complicating aid efforts.—
NPR,
NPR,
14 Oct. 2025
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Michaels took to her Instagram days after the release of Fit for TV to post a series of screenshots of text chains, email threads, and other pieces of documentation refuting or otherwise complicating each claim leveled at her.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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