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
Attorneys representing the plaintiff, a now 20-year-old woman identified by the initials KGM, claim her early use of social media addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts.
—
Barbara Ortutay, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
And while all rockets that make use of hydrogen are susceptible to frustrating leaks, NASA’s issues with SLS may be exacerbated by its political quirks.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
He is credited with being a pioneer in using the fashion platform to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s and more recently founded the Mental Health Coalition in 2020, when the mental health crisis was exacerbated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The spectacle surrounding the case has only been exacerbated by a flurry of anonymous notes to media organizations, variously claiming to know Guthrie’s location, demanding payment for her safe return, or even alleging to be the kidnappers themselves.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Feb. 2026
That defeat prompted another mini-crisis, with Marseille losing five league games out of seven, and exacerbated tensions in the squad.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Many have pointed out that the evidence of climate change has only grown stronger over time with annual heat records being set and broken year after year and weather extremes from hurricanes to flooding to wildfires exacerbated by climate change.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Trump’s attempt to cut off oil exports to has exacerbated an economic crisis and raised dire warnings of a coming humanitarian crisis.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Last year’s wildfires have exacerbated the city’s housing shortages, where median rents are pushing $2,200 for a tiny apartment.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Barbara Ortutay, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
And while all rockets that make use of hydrogen are susceptible to frustrating leaks, NASA’s issues with SLS may be exacerbated by its political quirks.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
He is credited with being a pioneer in using the fashion platform to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in the 1980s and more recently founded the Mental Health Coalition in 2020, when the mental health crisis was exacerbated amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The spectacle surrounding the case has only been exacerbated by a flurry of anonymous notes to media organizations, variously claiming to know Guthrie’s location, demanding payment for her safe return, or even alleging to be the kidnappers themselves.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 16 Feb. 2026
That defeat prompted another mini-crisis, with Marseille losing five league games out of seven, and exacerbated tensions in the squad.
—Tom Burrows, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Many have pointed out that the evidence of climate change has only grown stronger over time with annual heat records being set and broken year after year and weather extremes from hurricanes to flooding to wildfires exacerbated by climate change.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
Trump’s attempt to cut off oil exports to has exacerbated an economic crisis and raised dire warnings of a coming humanitarian crisis.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026
Last year’s wildfires have exacerbated the city’s housing shortages, where median rents are pushing $2,200 for a tiny apartment.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbated
Verb
-
Every year this doesn’t happen, Cohen grows more aggravated.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The severity of the weather was aggravated by heat in Chicago, where highs were reaching over 90 degrees.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The killing of Quentin Deranque has deepened tensions between France’s political factions ahead of next year’s presidential election.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
The congress, which began last Thursday, comes as Kim grows increasingly assertive in regional politics, following an aggressive expansion of his nuclear arsenal and closer ties with Russia forged through joint war efforts in Ukraine, which have deepened his standoffs with Washington and Seoul.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Those engineering decisions worsened Katrina’s destruction.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Kaley said her use of the platforms worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But political pressure intensified as UT’s top leadership turned over.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
22 Feb. 2026
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Since October last year, Russia has intensified its drone and missile attacks on the Ukrainian energy system, knocking out electricity and heat and plunging millions of Ukrainians into long blackouts during bitterly cold winter temperatures.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This doesn’t need to be complicated, by the way.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
21 Feb. 2026
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In any event, comparisons between hospitals’ nursing contracts are complicated because facilities may have different units and other specifics.—
Philip Marcelo,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbated. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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