as in aggravated
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Anger has been brewing in the Himalayan nation for years about the country’s worsening youth unemployment and lack of economic opportunities, exacerbated by what many view as a growing disparity between the country’s elite and regular people.
—
Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Brazil is deeply polarized and the trial exacerbated political tensions.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Morrow’s efforts to recruit Slightly accelerate this week, exacerbated by the disastrous Prodigy arbitration.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Six of the 10 countries most vulnerable to a warming climate are in Africa, which has in recent years been buffeted by devastating droughts and floods, both of which are exacerbated by climate change.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Burberry's share price has fallen sharply over recent years, declining almost 80% from April 2023 to September 2024, as waning sales and a slew of management changes exacerbated a wider luxury downturn.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
Over time, that issue was exacerbated as leadership made decisions that were more accommodating to White families.
—Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
Sugam Pokharel, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Brazil is deeply polarized and the trial exacerbated political tensions.
—Omar G. Encarnación, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2025
Morrow’s efforts to recruit Slightly accelerate this week, exacerbated by the disastrous Prodigy arbitration.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Six of the 10 countries most vulnerable to a warming climate are in Africa, which has in recent years been buffeted by devastating droughts and floods, both of which are exacerbated by climate change.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Burberry's share price has fallen sharply over recent years, declining almost 80% from April 2023 to September 2024, as waning sales and a slew of management changes exacerbated a wider luxury downturn.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2025
Over time, that issue was exacerbated as leadership made decisions that were more accommodating to White families.
—Krista Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbated
Verb
-
His criminal history includes convictions for felony grand larceny, felony aggravated DUI with a child passenger less than 16 years old, identify theft, and retail theft.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Jackson missed a month because of a toe injury in preseason, then re-aggravated it in the opening loss against the Colts.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His affection for sunflowers deepened after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.—
Christine Fernando,
Twin Cities,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The dynamic only deepened as gun ownership expanded.—
Maurizio Valsania,
The Conversation,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The gender wage gap among full-time workers also worsened in 2024.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The persecution worsened more than a decade ago during uprisings that remade the Middle East by toppling dictators — including Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak — but in some places spiraled into civil war.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The southern resident population faces exceptional challenges that have intensified reproductive failures.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its long-range strikes on Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For Donohue, a one-on-one discussion with Hunt and a later meeting with his constituents further complicated his decision.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Defining a tip in the digital creative space could be complicated, said Alex Muresianu, a senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbated. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share