as in worsening
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exacerbating
Voters also believe that tariffs are exacerbating the situation, but few Republicans are denouncing them or calling for policy changes.
—
Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Amid the shutdown, federal employees, including air traffic controllers, are not being paid for their work, exacerbating existing staffing shortages.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
If Beijing now doubles down on subsidizing both cutting-edge and traditional industries, the result could be an even greater glut of Chinese products globally, exacerbating trade frictions.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Young voters are united in disappointment Many young Americans feel a collective sense of disillusionment in the political system, and respondents told NPR that their financial struggles are exacerbating that pain.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
Bank lobbyists say these terminals being closed to penny deposits is exacerbating the penny shortage, because parts of the country that may have some surplus pennies are unable to get those pennies to parts of country with shortages.
—Ken Sweet, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Hence, researchers from around the globe are rushing to curb this exacerbating environmental problem by turning plastic into valuable products.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
Tariffs may be exacerbating that pain.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The American whiskey industry is on the rocks, with anti-tariff backlash hurting exports and exacerbating the strains of a years-long slump in domestic demand.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 7 Nov. 2025
Amid the shutdown, federal employees, including air traffic controllers, are not being paid for their work, exacerbating existing staffing shortages.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2025
If Beijing now doubles down on subsidizing both cutting-edge and traditional industries, the result could be an even greater glut of Chinese products globally, exacerbating trade frictions.
—Shaoyu Yuan, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
Young voters are united in disappointment Many young Americans feel a collective sense of disillusionment in the political system, and respondents told NPR that their financial struggles are exacerbating that pain.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
Bank lobbyists say these terminals being closed to penny deposits is exacerbating the penny shortage, because parts of the country that may have some surplus pennies are unable to get those pennies to parts of country with shortages.
—Ken Sweet, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Hence, researchers from around the globe are rushing to curb this exacerbating environmental problem by turning plastic into valuable products.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
Tariffs may be exacerbating that pain.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
The American whiskey industry is on the rocks, with anti-tariff backlash hurting exports and exacerbating the strains of a years-long slump in domestic demand.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbating
Verb
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Concerns around valuations in the artificial intelligence trade, along with worsening consumer sentiment, put a dent in equities last week.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
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In adults and in children, taking too much melatonin can interfere with the body’s circadian rhythm, potentially worsening sleep or having other effects.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Midseason blows followed, as rookie Caiya Hanks and newcomer Julie Dufour suffered anterior cruciate ligament tears, only deepening the challenge.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
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With the climate crisis only deepening each year, throwing natural cycles and seasons into disarray, Japan is now bracing for future spikes in human-bear encounters each fall and spring.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of snow in some areas, with gusty winds reducing visibility and complicating travel.—
Sirena Bergman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
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But there are already some variables complicating the timeline.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbating. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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