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
Since the pandemic, South Florida’s housing crisis has only exacerbated the issue at already overwhelmed animal shelters.
—
Amanda Rosa
april 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The situation had been exacerbated by the snow, everyone agreed.
—Rachel Sugar, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2026
The series highlights systemic inequities and the government’s failures, revealing how the storm exacerbated existing social injustices while providing a platform for local voices to reclaim their story and share resilience, grief, and wisdom for future generations.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Porsha and Shamea are no longer on speaking terms after a rocky past year, exacerbated by a heated post-reunion text exchange.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2026
The problem is exacerbated by how left-handed heavy the Twins’ current roster is.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
The most recent budget crunches have been characterized by the majority Democrats as a battle against a structural deficit exacerbated by the constraints of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
But the situation was exacerbated when the United Methodist Church allowed a portion of its congregation to break off in 2020 and form Wellspring United Methodist Church in Oswego, Henry said.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The risks of growing the data center footprint has been exacerbated by the ongoing war in Iran.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Amanda Rosa
april 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
The situation had been exacerbated by the snow, everyone agreed.
—Rachel Sugar, Curbed, 8 Apr. 2026
The series highlights systemic inequities and the government’s failures, revealing how the storm exacerbated existing social injustices while providing a platform for local voices to reclaim their story and share resilience, grief, and wisdom for future generations.
—Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Porsha and Shamea are no longer on speaking terms after a rocky past year, exacerbated by a heated post-reunion text exchange.
—Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2026
The problem is exacerbated by how left-handed heavy the Twins’ current roster is.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
The most recent budget crunches have been characterized by the majority Democrats as a battle against a structural deficit exacerbated by the constraints of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
But the situation was exacerbated when the United Methodist Church allowed a portion of its congregation to break off in 2020 and form Wellspring United Methodist Church in Oswego, Henry said.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The risks of growing the data center footprint has been exacerbated by the ongoing war in Iran.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbated
Verb
-
The injury was first reported by the British tabloid, The Sun, which claimed that Turner had aggravated a pre-existing back injury.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Huerta pled guilty in February in Leavenworth County District Court to one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of aggravated endangering a child, according to previous Star reporting.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
March 29,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once the intendeds did tie the knot, their love deepened into a lifetime of devotion and admiration.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The freezing of those funds – equivalent to around 10% of the country’s national output – has deepened Hungary’s economic malaise.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Drought conditions worsened significantly in Nebraska last month, contributing to the state's largest wildfire on record.—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
People who have been stable for years are suddenly re-exposed to risk, not because their disease worsened, but because coverage did.—
John Fomeche,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, the increasingly visual nature of modern life—especially on social media—has intensified how weddings are experienced.—
Sara Radin,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
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At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting commercial and residential areas in Beirut.—
Bassem Mroue,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
From there, things get complicated based on where the fuel is taxed — at fuel terminals, say, or when distributors buy or sell fuel — and depending on various agreements between states and tribes.—
Mead Gruver,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Middle East conflict has complicated the Fed's rate-setting approach, as the central bank weighs the lasting price impact of the energy shock.—
Sarah Min,Sean Conlon,Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbated. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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