as in aggravated
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
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Recent Examples of exacerbated
Though likely exacerbated by the recent US naval blockade of Iran, cost of living issues underpinned nationwide anti-government protests that began late last year – leading to a ruthless crackdown.
—
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Advertisement Several universities have also faced fiscal crises, driven by a number of factors, that could be exacerbated by lower international student enrollment.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 May 2026
This effect is exacerbated with social media.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
The economic fallout of the Iran war has exacerbated this issue.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 May 2026
The middle-class and poorest New Yorkers have borne the brunt of rising health, food, utility and now fuel costs, exacerbated by these federal tax policies.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
This could be exacerbated in 2026 with a strong El Nino.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
However, the North Carolina Nurses Association notes that the data used in the projection was collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely exacerbated both burnout and early retirement.
—Eva Flowe
may 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
Low pay, heavy workloads, and lack of clear worker protections and advancement opportunities have been common across the industry, but the pandemic really accelerated things, as issues like cost of living and accommodations for disability and caretaking were exacerbated.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Advertisement Several universities have also faced fiscal crises, driven by a number of factors, that could be exacerbated by lower international student enrollment.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 12 May 2026
This effect is exacerbated with social media.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
The economic fallout of the Iran war has exacerbated this issue.
—Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 11 May 2026
The middle-class and poorest New Yorkers have borne the brunt of rising health, food, utility and now fuel costs, exacerbated by these federal tax policies.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
This could be exacerbated in 2026 with a strong El Nino.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
However, the North Carolina Nurses Association notes that the data used in the projection was collected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely exacerbated both burnout and early retirement.
—Eva Flowe
may 8, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2026
Low pay, heavy workloads, and lack of clear worker protections and advancement opportunities have been common across the industry, but the pandemic really accelerated things, as issues like cost of living and accommodations for disability and caretaking were exacerbated.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbated
Verb
-
When asked if there was one particular incident that aggravated the knee, Webb pointed to his recent start against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 30.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
-
Ingram aggravated a heel injury that bothered him late in the regular season in the second quarter of Wednesday’s Game 5.—
Eric Koreen,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
China, which has deepened military and economic cooperation with both Pakistan and Iran in recent years, has publicly celebrated Pakistan's role in facilitating indirect communications between Tehran and Washington.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
-
On the witness stand, Nadella testified that OpenAI retained its independence even as the Microsoft-OpenAI partnership deepened over time.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The doctors said her vascular disease has worsened since she was last checked in 2024 and recommended an eight-month treatment course .—
Natalie Melzer,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Drought conditions in Georgia have worsened since the project was announced, and today, the whole state is experiencing severe to exceptional drought, with destructive wildfires burning in the southern part of Georgia.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Several candidates said the case has intensified conversations around ethics and accountability, while also highlighting broader frustrations residents already had with City Hall responsiveness and city services.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
Forgoing the traditional show of force in favor of security, the parade took place after intensified Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory, particularly against oil refineries, as the Ukrainian government accuses the Kremlin of continuing attacks on Kyiv and beyond.—
Zahra Ullah,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
But a fascinating 1998 study published in the International Journal of Primatology complicated this explanation.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
According to the Cleveland Clinic, 5 to 8 percent of births in the United States are complicated by preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders.—
Tina Sturdevant,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbated. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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