exacerbates

Definition of exacerbatesnext
present tense third-person singular of exacerbate
as in deepens
to make more severe a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem

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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 backlog of transformers exacerbates this situation. Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 Artists can be complicated, selfish people, and substance abuse exacerbates these traits for many of them. Luis Parrales, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026 The course’s only chance at truly defending against low scores is these greens making life difficult, and that only exacerbates Burns’ advantage. Brody Miller, New York Times, 13 May 2026 The Gallup poll found that around half of Americans report feeling stressed in their daily lives, a factor the American Psychological Association says can further degrade sleep quality, which in turn exacerbates stress. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 4 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbates
Verb
  • Sharing stories As the conversation deepens, the goal is to move past talking points into storytelling.
    Lisa Pavia-Higel, The Conversation, 27 May 2026
  • OpenAI deepens Amazon ties watch now Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • Mercury aggravates Jupiter, intensifying your vulnerability in creative or romantic situations.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Levinson’s structural lens complicates this in an important way.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
  • Downstream lithography and ion implantation steps are also more demanding than for silicon, partly because SiC’s hardness complicates polishing and etch uniformity.
    Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Global economic outlook worsens over Iran war The US and Iran appeared still willing to reach a peace deal despite American strikes and Tehran’s threats of reprisals — but the global economic fallout from the conflict deepened.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 29 May 2026
  • When oil prices rise because of a supply disruption, as happened in 1973 and 1979, the economy worsens.
    Bill Conerly, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • This problem often intensifies once business leaders decide to scale their AI solutions and move them into production.
    Shekhar Iyer, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • Israeli forces seized a 12th-century Crusader castle in southern Lebanon, as Israel intensifies its farthest incursion into the country in 26 years, despite a nominal ceasefire.
    Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 31 May 2026

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“Exacerbates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbates. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

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