as in worsening
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
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Recent Examples of exacerbating
Vance recently said that ICE agents could begin going door to door in the coming months, exacerbating fears.
—
Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Critics said the language was too vague, potentially exacerbating budget problems by making certain revenues too inflexible.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Rising global temperatures are exacerbating the problem.
—Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Climate change was an important theme in the 2022 report, described as an emerging threat exacerbating other challenges.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The closure came amid a prolonged employee strike that has been going on since last summer, with a major heist in October further exacerbating the situation.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
And exacerbating rising costs and extended timelines, there has been a pull back of investment in the biotech sector.
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Mold, lack of heat, inadequate ventilation, infestations and lead are just some threats to tenants’ health in substandard housing, often exacerbating chronic illnesses such as asthma and lung disease.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
High winds were exacerbating dry conditions and raising fire risks, especially in the Fort Collins Area and northeastern Colorado, agency officials said.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 30 Jan. 2026
Critics said the language was too vague, potentially exacerbating budget problems by making certain revenues too inflexible.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
Rising global temperatures are exacerbating the problem.
—Dinesh Phuyal, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
Climate change was an important theme in the 2022 report, described as an emerging threat exacerbating other challenges.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The closure came amid a prolonged employee strike that has been going on since last summer, with a major heist in October further exacerbating the situation.
—Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
And exacerbating rising costs and extended timelines, there has been a pull back of investment in the biotech sector.
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Mold, lack of heat, inadequate ventilation, infestations and lead are just some threats to tenants’ health in substandard housing, often exacerbating chronic illnesses such as asthma and lung disease.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 20 Jan. 2026
High winds were exacerbating dry conditions and raising fire risks, especially in the Fort Collins Area and northeastern Colorado, agency officials said.
—Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbating
Verb
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Brin has committed $20 million to a new organization called Building a Better California, a political and policy effort aimed squarely at California’s worsening housing affordability problems, recent state disclosures show, as first reported by The New York Times.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
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The mills, for their part, cited crippling financial losses that were compounded by high borrowing costs and a worsening fuel deficit.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The one-day workshop brings together Phambassadors for speaker sessions, storytelling workshops and community-building — all in the name of deepening the Philly love.—
Nikki DeMentri,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
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Born Again is a worthy follow-up to its original series, deepening its themes of corruption and justice with Cox and D'Onofrio continuing to deliver committed performances.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Main roadways have improved, but City of Memphis Public Works Director Scott Morgan on Tuesday said the sleet that had frozen on top of the snow was complicating plowing efforts.—
Jack Armstrong,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
28 Jan. 2026
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She was also criticized for encouraging violence against Black Africans who supported the Apartheid regime, complicating her legacy.—
Jeremy Helligar,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbating. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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