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
The complaints also allege that sparking or downed power lines exacerbated the inferno.
—
Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 10 June 2026
This was exacerbated by head coach Fabio Ingolitsch, still getting his feet under the table after joining two months before Wilson, switching to a different variance of wing-back system.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 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
Last week's sell-off was triggered on Wednesday by idling – though robust – revenue projections from chipmaker Broadcom and may have been exacerbated by a call from artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for the sector to slow down its pace of advancements .
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Knicks fans’ superstitions surrounding the purse may have been exacerbated after the team’s 115-111 loss to the Spurs on Monday.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
Ultimately, the conflict exacerbated an existing rift between the school and its community over political activism.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 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, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
Social media – particularly influencer accounts and an ever-growing load of new products – have exacerbated the feeling that parenting is getting more intense, more extravagant and harder to succeed at.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Tony Saavedra, Daily News, 10 June 2026
This was exacerbated by head coach Fabio Ingolitsch, still getting his feet under the table after joining two months before Wilson, switching to a different variance of wing-back system.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 10 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
Last week's sell-off was triggered on Wednesday by idling – though robust – revenue projections from chipmaker Broadcom and may have been exacerbated by a call from artificial intelligence startup Anthropic for the sector to slow down its pace of advancements .
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Knicks fans’ superstitions surrounding the purse may have been exacerbated after the team’s 115-111 loss to the Spurs on Monday.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 June 2026
Ultimately, the conflict exacerbated an existing rift between the school and its community over political activism.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 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, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
Social media – particularly influencer accounts and an ever-growing load of new products – have exacerbated the feeling that parenting is getting more intense, more extravagant and harder to succeed at.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 7 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbated
Verb
-
Finding timely health care has been hard, aggravated by a lack of transportation.—
Elizabeth Cooney,
STAT,
8 June 2026
-
The complex may actually have aggravated the city’s housing woes, since its presence has reportedly nudged up rents and attracted real-estate speculators.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
The company has also deepened ties with major technology players including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, even as competition intensifies across the AI industry.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
-
The rampage, blamed on a man from the Arab town of Taybeh, deepened tensions after settler violence and a Palestinian baby’s killing in the West Bank.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Sales have declined as inflation has worsened, and Benike recently reduced one full-time employee to part-time hours.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
The security situation in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso has worsened recently, analysts say, with a record number of attacks by Islamic extremists.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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But inconsistencies between location data and statements Brian Hooker made to investigators have intensified scrutiny on the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, a US official familiar with the criminal investigation told CNN.—
Rebekah Riess,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
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The United States has also intensified pressure on Iran by enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports, citing Tehran’s threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil and natural gas exports.—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Israel’s strikes and ground invasion in Lebanon in pursuit of Hezbollah, and the militant group’s resistance to disarming, have complicated an overall deal to end the war in the Middle East.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
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The team's participation in the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, has been complicated by the Iran war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbated. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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