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
Prior federal probes also looked at whether Tesla's Autopilot system may have been exacerbating human driver behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision.
—
Keith Laing, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
This has led to a pattern of unlawful detentions and mass deportations, creating a climate of fear and exacerbating the 'chilling effect' for migrant communities and for international students across schools and campuses.
—Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Alongside the lock-in effect, construction has failed to make up for a years-long shortage of new homes, exacerbating the shortfall.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Addiction often is rooted in exacerbating factors like anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic stress and pain.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Demographic shifts and changes in immigration policy are also exacerbating the fiscal strain.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
There is a consensus in the scientific community that human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, is heating up the planet, exacerbating extreme weather.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
State funding reductions in healthcare are exacerbating the issue.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Longer styles tend to work best on those with medium to thick hair densities, while exacerbating fine and thin hair.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
Keith Laing, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
This has led to a pattern of unlawful detentions and mass deportations, creating a climate of fear and exacerbating the 'chilling effect' for migrant communities and for international students across schools and campuses.
—Austen Erblat, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
Alongside the lock-in effect, construction has failed to make up for a years-long shortage of new homes, exacerbating the shortfall.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Addiction often is rooted in exacerbating factors like anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic stress and pain.
—Emma Fenske, The Conversation, 12 Feb. 2026
Demographic shifts and changes in immigration policy are also exacerbating the fiscal strain.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
There is a consensus in the scientific community that human activity, especially the burning of fossil fuels, is heating up the planet, exacerbating extreme weather.
—Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2026
State funding reductions in healthcare are exacerbating the issue.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 10 Feb. 2026
Longer styles tend to work best on those with medium to thick hair densities, while exacerbating fine and thin hair.
—Audrey Noble, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbating
Verb
-
International airlines are suspending flights to Cuba as the nation continues to face a worsening fuel shortage.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
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Poor and minority communities face worsening health risks including cancer, asthma and extreme heat exposure from industrial facilities and climate change impacts.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Prince William has deliberately distanced himself from Prince Harry, deepening a rift that remains unresolved six years later.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Political divides within countries are deepening, even among long-standing allies.—
Alan H.H. Fleischmann,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But her government first must tackle rising prices and stagnant wages, complicating her ultra-conservative social agenda on immigration and women’s rights.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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But the sheer number of people implicated, the varying degrees of association with Epstein, and other complicating factors have made repercussions for others slower to emerge.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbating. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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