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 scarcity of facilities exacerbates the problem of families having to travel sometimes long distances to visit their disabled children, the court found, further isolating the kids.
—
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
The state’s notorious summer heat exacerbates overdose deaths, according to recent research.
—Kaitlin Coward, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Sure, hormones may be bouncing around during midlife as women near menopause, but adding additional hormones to the mix adds risk and actually exacerbates some symptoms.
—Patricia Bencivenga, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
If the swelling in your lungs exacerbates, however, a dangerous condition called high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) can occur.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
On Saturday, Duffy told Fox News that spring break travel only exacerbates the delays as families with children wait in the long lines.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 Mar. 2026
Swinging and missing exacerbates the pain in Rodriguez’s hand, Schlossnagle said.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 14 Mar. 2026
That spiral exacerbates the affordability crisis.
—Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The current scale of fossil-fuel burning is also disrupting entire Earth-system functions, which in turn drives fuel demand (as people try to stay warm or cool) and exacerbates the kind of extreme weather that can destroy communities and transform ecosystems.
—Meera Subramanian, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
The state’s notorious summer heat exacerbates overdose deaths, according to recent research.
—Kaitlin Coward, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Sure, hormones may be bouncing around during midlife as women near menopause, but adding additional hormones to the mix adds risk and actually exacerbates some symptoms.
—Patricia Bencivenga, STAT, 26 Mar. 2026
If the swelling in your lungs exacerbates, however, a dangerous condition called high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) can occur.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
On Saturday, Duffy told Fox News that spring break travel only exacerbates the delays as families with children wait in the long lines.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 21 Mar. 2026
Swinging and missing exacerbates the pain in Rodriguez’s hand, Schlossnagle said.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 14 Mar. 2026
That spiral exacerbates the affordability crisis.
—Christopher Greenwood, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The current scale of fossil-fuel burning is also disrupting entire Earth-system functions, which in turn drives fuel demand (as people try to stay warm or cool) and exacerbates the kind of extreme weather that can destroy communities and transform ecosystems.
—Meera Subramanian, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbates
Verb
-
Set during a bleak Arctic winter, the mystery deepens with the strange death of an elderly woman and another shocking murder.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
13 Apr. 2026
-
That gap, however, is expected to close as capabilities improve and adoption deepens.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Flood conditions in Northern Lower Michigan have become increasingly dire in recent days, as heavy rainfall aggravates the winter snowmelt in the region.—
Terrance Friday,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Smoke from wildfires penetrates deep into the lungs and aggravates respiratory disease more than any other type of pollution.—
Becky Upham,
EverydayHealth.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That complicates the fantasy that classic stoner movies once relied on.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
20 Apr. 2026
-
That reality complicates the industry’s fixation on recycling, particularly the push toward closed-loop systems that promise to turn old garments into new ones.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Strong cleaners can leave residue that actually worsens allergy symptoms.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The funding is aimed at supporting a three-pronged plan put forward by a South End, Roxbury, and Newmarket community working group in February that focuses on getting addicts off the streets, out of jail, and into recovery to avoid the chaos and crowding that worsens there each summer.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That intensifies pressure on housing, infrastructure and the environment, Majorca Daily Bulletin reported.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Philadelphia is expected to reach 87 on Tuesday before the heat intensifies to a high of 91 later in the week.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbates. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
