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
Consumers face a constant threat of high inflation, readily exacerbated by external shocks such as the Iran war, triggering a demand for safe currency stores.
—
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 17 June 2026
This stark discrepancy—akin to selling a Hermès bag at a 60 percent discount in one location while attempting to sell it at full price at a nearby store—has exacerbated mistrust in the art system’s attribution of prices and value.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026
And while grief is different for everyone, experts say collective or public grief is a valid experience and can be exacerbated when the death of a public figure is learned unexpectedly in the news or on social media.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Many Democratic voters this year waited to turn in their ballots due to the crowded pool of gubernatorial candidates, which probably exacerbated the already-slow process.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
Although the Federal Reserve trimmed interest rates in 2024 and 2025, the cost of borrowing remains elevated as concerns over inflation grow, exacerbated by oil price spikes and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
—John W. Diamond, Fortune, 12 June 2026
These housing communities were largely underfunded, poorly maintained and often exacerbated issues of racial and economic segregation in American cities.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Buchanan supported both Kansas becoming a slave State, and the Supreme Court’s pro-slavery Dred Scott decision, which exacerbated tensions.
—New York Times, 11 June 2026
But energy analysts say recent price hikes are based on growing demand, aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events that are exacerbated by climate change.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 17 June 2026
This stark discrepancy—akin to selling a Hermès bag at a 60 percent discount in one location while attempting to sell it at full price at a nearby store—has exacerbated mistrust in the art system’s attribution of prices and value.
—Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 June 2026
And while grief is different for everyone, experts say collective or public grief is a valid experience and can be exacerbated when the death of a public figure is learned unexpectedly in the news or on social media.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 15 June 2026
Many Democratic voters this year waited to turn in their ballots due to the crowded pool of gubernatorial candidates, which probably exacerbated the already-slow process.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026
Although the Federal Reserve trimmed interest rates in 2024 and 2025, the cost of borrowing remains elevated as concerns over inflation grow, exacerbated by oil price spikes and the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
—John W. Diamond, Fortune, 12 June 2026
These housing communities were largely underfunded, poorly maintained and often exacerbated issues of racial and economic segregation in American cities.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Buchanan supported both Kansas becoming a slave State, and the Supreme Court’s pro-slavery Dred Scott decision, which exacerbated tensions.
—New York Times, 11 June 2026
But energy analysts say recent price hikes are based on growing demand, aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events that are exacerbated by climate change.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbated
Verb
-
However, the injury stems from a few muscles near the top of his hand that continue to be aggravated.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 June 2026
-
Finding timely health care has been hard, aggravated by a lack of transportation.—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The sheer scale of COVID’s spread has vastly deepened science’s understanding of the ways that viruses continue to affect the human body long after the initial illness has passed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Often, the difficulties in interacting with them will only become apparent once the relationship has deepened.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Shares of Micron have surged 258% in the year to date, fueled by a memory supply crunch worsened by widening AI adoption.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
17 June 2026
-
Joe’s mental acuity, already visibly declining in 2024, has probably worsened.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
17 June 2026
Verb
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While trust in the program may be damaged due to the case against one of their colleagues, the staff in recent days has only intensified their presence in communities, Mavronis said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
-
In a recent report BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, said pressure on BYD’s profit margins had intensified.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Citing a Civil Defense Authority source, the Yemeni news agency Saba reported that the recovery effort was complicated by the crater’s rugged terrain, significant depth, and intense heat.—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
-
But the inability to coalesce behind a GOP nominee has complicated the path forward.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbated. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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