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
This only exacerbates that need.
—
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 12 Oct. 2025
His loving, pragmatic wife, Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), gamely downsizes their middle-class life to fit their new reality — but her resoluteness only exacerbates his despair.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
The conversation focused on men's wellbeing in America, particularly mental health among young men and how social media exacerbates issues of identity and loneliness.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
The Rockets' roster lacks guards and ball-handlers, especially when compared to other title contenders, and VanVleet's injury exacerbates the problem.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The thinking among some academics and business leaders goes that requiring companies to disclose their finances every quarter, as the US has done since 1970, exacerbates Corporate America’s obsession with pleasing the stock market in the short term rather than focusing on long-term value creation.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The feeling of invisibility exacerbates results.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Registered psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson, who co-founded The Institute of Child Psychology, argued that homework after school only exacerbates the problem.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Aside from a changing climate, water managers say the inability to store water in upstream reservoirs due to compact obligations exacerbates the problem.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
Rebecca Schneid, Time, 12 Oct. 2025
His loving, pragmatic wife, Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), gamely downsizes their middle-class life to fit their new reality — but her resoluteness only exacerbates his despair.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
The conversation focused on men's wellbeing in America, particularly mental health among young men and how social media exacerbates issues of identity and loneliness.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
The Rockets' roster lacks guards and ball-handlers, especially when compared to other title contenders, and VanVleet's injury exacerbates the problem.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
The thinking among some academics and business leaders goes that requiring companies to disclose their finances every quarter, as the US has done since 1970, exacerbates Corporate America’s obsession with pleasing the stock market in the short term rather than focusing on long-term value creation.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The feeling of invisibility exacerbates results.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Registered psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson, who co-founded The Institute of Child Psychology, argued that homework after school only exacerbates the problem.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Aside from a changing climate, water managers say the inability to store water in upstream reservoirs due to compact obligations exacerbates the problem.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbates
Verb
-
Around 60% of Iraq's nearly 46 million citizens are under the age of 30, a demographic that could determine whether the election reinvigorates a stagnant political system or deepens disillusionment.—
Emma Graham,
CNBC,
15 Oct. 2025
-
Paper opens with clove and Atlas cedar for spicy warmth, deepens into leather and soft cashmere, and finishes with a whisper of bourbon vanilla and parchment.—
Michael Stefanov,
Robb Report,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Money could be at the heart of the power struggle when Mars aggravates Pluto.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.—
Mary Gilbert,
CNN Money,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The silent operational mode of each launcher – completely passive until launch – adds a stealth element that complicates enemy reconnaissance and targeting, reported Army Recognition.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
-
But then the slider complicates things.—
Eno Sarris,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hitching a trailer to any vehicle dramatically worsens aerodynamics, essentially turning it into a giant parachute.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The raw sewage rises to the surface, adding to the unbearable stink, which spreads and worsens with every passing day.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As public anger intensifies crucial questions about the next steps remain unanswered.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The East Coast is bracing for heavy rains and strong winds as a nor’easter intensifies through the weekend.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbates. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share