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
Gas prices have jumped more than a dollar per gallon across the Bay Area since then, a more than 25% increase over the last month, exacerbating the cost of living in one of the most expensive regions in the country.
—
Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
There are also concerns that the US may overestimate China’s capabilities, exacerbating nuclear proliferation.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
As the helium industry typically operates via long-term contracts, chip producers have scrambled to secure short-term suppliers, exacerbating the effects of the shortage with an all-out-bidding-war.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
In the worst cases, hospitals or clinics in rural areas have been forced to shutter their doors, leaving their communities with one less place to receive care and exacerbating existing health care deserts.
—Jeffrey Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
There may also be an element of panic-buying among consumers, further exacerbating price increases, said Nastro.
—Jessica Dickler,greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
In the worst cases, hospitals or clinics in rural areas have been forced to shutter their doors, leaving their communities with one less place to receive care and exacerbating existing health care deserts.
—Christian Dameff, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Greifinger, the correctional health expert, said the sheriff’s office should commission an independent mortality review to study whether any jail operations, staffing or other shortcomings are exacerbating external factors and resulting in preventable deaths.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Immigrant rights groups said the new federal guidelines create severe economic hardship for immigrant commercial drivers in California, who are lawfully qualified to work but cannot obtain licenses, exacerbating a truck driver shortage.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
There are also concerns that the US may overestimate China’s capabilities, exacerbating nuclear proliferation.
—Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
As the helium industry typically operates via long-term contracts, chip producers have scrambled to secure short-term suppliers, exacerbating the effects of the shortage with an all-out-bidding-war.
—Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 1 Apr. 2026
In the worst cases, hospitals or clinics in rural areas have been forced to shutter their doors, leaving their communities with one less place to receive care and exacerbating existing health care deserts.
—Jeffrey Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
There may also be an element of panic-buying among consumers, further exacerbating price increases, said Nastro.
—Jessica Dickler,greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026
In the worst cases, hospitals or clinics in rural areas have been forced to shutter their doors, leaving their communities with one less place to receive care and exacerbating existing health care deserts.
—Christian Dameff, The Conversation, 20 Mar. 2026
Greifinger, the correctional health expert, said the sheriff’s office should commission an independent mortality review to study whether any jail operations, staffing or other shortcomings are exacerbating external factors and resulting in preventable deaths.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
Immigrant rights groups said the new federal guidelines create severe economic hardship for immigrant commercial drivers in California, who are lawfully qualified to work but cannot obtain licenses, exacerbating a truck driver shortage.
—Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbating
Verb
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This also might be an opportunity to express your concern about his worsening drinking and ask him to get help.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
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But with one-fifth of the world’s oil supply still largely bottled up in the Persian Gulf, which provides more than 80% of Asia’s energy supplies, shortages are worsening and getting hard to stave off with contingency measures.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the same time, the company is deepening its integration of artificial intelligence.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The latest data was published in the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s yearly economic indicators report, which offered an overall bleak picture of the Bay Area economy, including declining buying power among residents and deepening office vacancies in the city.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Further complicating the dynamics is Wilson’s prior romance with co-star Ciara Miller, Batula’s close friend.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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As many as 20,000 Iranian civilians live on Kharg in ordinary times, complicating invasion planning.—
Nancy A. Youssef,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbating. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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