as in deepens
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 exacerbates
The rapid growth and use of AI tools, coupled with the lack of regulation, supercharges mis- and disinformation and greatly impacts efforts to address all these threats and exacerbates every other impending disaster, Holz said.
—
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
When a community and its people fail to uphold this value, as the Satmar community and Weberman continue to do, that failure becomes a secondary betrayal of survivors that deepens and exacerbates their original trauma.
—Guila Benchimol, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
This geopolitical friction exacerbates economic vulnerabilities, particularly regarding supply chains.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Doctors live in constant fear of missing a critical detail buried on page 400 of a messy digital file, which further exacerbates burnout.
—Eve Cunningham, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
And freezing or cutting taxes only exacerbates the situation.
—Austin Sarat, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Unlike cobalt’s detrimental role in PC-NMC, researchers find that cobalt is critical for enhancing the longevity of SC-NMC by mitigating localized strain along the extended diffusion pathway, whereas manganese exacerbates mechanical degradation.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
The action takes place to chintzy, cheerful music that only exacerbates feelings of blood-boiling frustration.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
The lesson is that simply trying to impose or shift more costs to landlords and developers through various laws and regulations only exacerbates the housing affordability problem by discouraging both current and future housing development, thereby restricting supply and driving up prices.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2025
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
When a community and its people fail to uphold this value, as the Satmar community and Weberman continue to do, that failure becomes a secondary betrayal of survivors that deepens and exacerbates their original trauma.
—Guila Benchimol, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
This geopolitical friction exacerbates economic vulnerabilities, particularly regarding supply chains.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 23 Jan. 2026
Doctors live in constant fear of missing a critical detail buried on page 400 of a messy digital file, which further exacerbates burnout.
—Eve Cunningham, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
And freezing or cutting taxes only exacerbates the situation.
—Austin Sarat, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Unlike cobalt’s detrimental role in PC-NMC, researchers find that cobalt is critical for enhancing the longevity of SC-NMC by mitigating localized strain along the extended diffusion pathway, whereas manganese exacerbates mechanical degradation.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
The action takes place to chintzy, cheerful music that only exacerbates feelings of blood-boiling frustration.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
The lesson is that simply trying to impose or shift more costs to landlords and developers through various laws and regulations only exacerbates the housing affordability problem by discouraging both current and future housing development, thereby restricting supply and driving up prices.
—Adam Summers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbates
Verb
-
Activist groups report over 6,200 deaths, while Iran’s currency continues plummeting to historic lows as the economic crisis deepens.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Tuning out may feel easier — but silence only deepens the divide.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In the extreme off-chance that Darnold doesn’t play or aggravates the injury, the Seahawks would call upon Drew Lock, who has just three regular season passing attempts on the year.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Nathan tells him to get in the water in order to fix the hooks and ropes, but Max stands on the Jet Ski instead, which aggravates the bosun.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some assistance comes from sportsbooks and casinos themselves, though this complicates certain priorities.—
Jasper Craven,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Whether that expertise strengthens or complicates monetary policy will depend less on his market savvy than on his ability to preserve the Fed’s institutional discipline and independence at a time of heightened scrutiny.—
Garth Friesen,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That kind of improvement could help avoid a worst-case scenario the Fed has been desperate to avoid, one where expectations for high inflation trigger a vicious cycle of behavior that only worsens inflation.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Both Lago and Iglesias describe the move as taking control of the city’s future, protecting residents from the possibility of rising garbage and disposal fees as the county’s waste crisis worsens.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
March’s lunar eclipse in Virgo — activating your fifth house of love and passion — intensifies attraction, desire and romantic chemistry, pushing you to take a risk or end a dynamic that no longer brings you joy.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Microsoft has introduced the Maia 200, its second-generation in-house AI chip, as competition intensifies around the cost of running large models.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbates. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
