as in to worsen
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
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Recent Examples of exacerbate
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that women are on the front lines of the church’s work on the ground, with nuns providing healthcare and education in developing countries and plenty of women leading Catholic schools and universities.
—
Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Afghan advocates say the deteriorating conditions in the country have been exacerbated by the Biden administration’s 2021 military withdrawal, citing food insecurity and safety issues for women under the Taliban.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025
East Fort Worth residents blamed the development for exacerbating problems with water runoff and flooding.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
It is also suspected to exacerbate hyperactivity in children.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2025
Afghan advocates say the deteriorating conditions in the country have been exacerbated by the Biden administration’s 2021 military withdrawal, citing food insecurity and safety issues for women under the Taliban.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 24 Apr. 2025
East Fort Worth residents blamed the development for exacerbating problems with water runoff and flooding.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
It is also suspected to exacerbate hyperactivity in children.
—Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
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The administration’s threat of tariffs on pharmaceuticals risks political backlash, worsening drug shortages and future battles over who pays.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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The death of the head of the Catholic Church comes after a series of worsening health problems, including a respiratory crisis that left him in critical condition in recent months.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Research from psychologists Robert Emmons and Philip Watkins shows that gratitude, especially in moments of hardship, strengthens our emotional well-being and deepens our connections.—
Colin Bedell,
Them.,
18 Apr. 2025
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The intricate tensions of their relationships are deepened by evocations of the past—including their forebears’ tragic resistance to enslavement—and of enduring African traditions.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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American Anglophobia was palpable years after the American Revolution, swelling during the War of 1812, and aggravated again by the Panic of 1819, America’s first major economic crisis.—
Made by History,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
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Trump is particularly aggravated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO — the world's biggest military alliance, which comprises 32 countries in Europe and North America.—
Michel Martin,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As the pope’s funeral approached, security around the Vatican intensified.—
Alan Yuhas,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
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President Trump’s recent ultimatum proposing U.S. recognition of Russia’s annexation of Crimea has intensified the diplomatic divide within Europe, forcing European capitals to choose between Kyiv or Washington.—
Katya Soldak,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, the picture for other automakers is complicated, to say the least.—
Justin Worland,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
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The United States’s relationship with Pakistan and India is complicated, though Pakistan has been more favored in the past.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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