exacerbated

verb

past tense of exacerbate
as in aggravated
to make more severe a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 exacerbated The country has increasingly turned to technology to combat the threat of fires, exacerbated by climate change. — Elena Becatoros, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 The total number may also be far higher, as the already opaque practices of the shipping industry have been exacerbated by the risks of war. — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026 The budget shortfall has been exacerbated by a decline in births and a reduction of immigration, resulting in fewer taxpayers at the same time that many Baby Boomers have begun receiving benefits. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 July 2026 And a wave of recent tax cuts has exacerbated the state’s more sober financial reality. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026 The concentrated population, aging buildings, lack of architectural safety standards, and soft soil were all factors that exacerbated the structural devastation. — Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026 Key industries like agriculture, outdoor recreation, and the power grid are structurally vulnerable to water scarcity and extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change. — Kelly Fleming, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Engelmayer said Weinstein's medical ordeal was exacerbated by a case of pneumonia. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The aftermath of Lord’s only exacerbated those differences. — Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbated
  1. aggravated
  2. deepened
  3. worsened
  4. intensified
  5. complicated
Verb
  • But the irritation in his left knee, which is aggravated by pitching, continues to be a problem.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • Buxton re-aggravated a right hip issue that has sidelined him multiple times this season on Sunday, leaving the game early after attempting to steal second base.
    — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of aggravated
Verb
  • The war that followed October 7 deepened the rupture, with several Entebbe veterans joining the weekly protests calling on Netanyahu to end the fighting and strike a deal to bring the hostages home.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 13 July 2026
  • His assertive foreign policy made Qatar a key mediator from Darfur to Gaza, while backing Islamists and hosting Taliban talks deepened rifts with neighbors and Western partners.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of deepened
Verb
  • Five of six different brain tests showed diranersen recipients’ memory and other cognitive abilities still worsened but more slowly than those given dummy shots, Mummery said.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 14 July 2026
  • Neighbors who saw smoke coming from the home reached Bo and Addie before conditions worsened.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of worsened
Verb
  • Tensions between the two tech companies have strained their relationship, as the race to develop AI products has intensified competition for talent and proprietary technology.
    — Stephen Nellis, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • Earlier, at least 17 people were killed in the southern Philippines, mostly due to landslides that were set off by seasonal monsoon rains that Bavi intensified before the typhoon blew away toward Taiwan, Philippine officials said Saturday.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of intensified
Verb
  • Ormund’s conviction is complicated by the fact that his most powerful asset, Daeron, is a Targaryen by lineage.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 July 2026
  • Even before Pulte's appointment complicated its path to renewal, the law was already on a bumpy path as civil liberties-minded lawmakers in both parties demanded reforms on warrant requirements.
    — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of complicated

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exacerbated
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Cite this Entry

“Exacerbated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbated. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of exacerbated for Spanish Speakers

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