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 was exacerbated when WellStar closed two area hospitals in 2022.
—
Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 2 June 2026
Moscow launched the onslaught against threats of heightened aggression, citing a wave of Ukrainian near-daily attacks on Russian oil assets that tanked fuel stocks and exacerbated economic woes.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
California and New York passed laws requiring safeguards to prevent chatbots from exacerbating thoughts of suicide or self-harm, such as requirements that the bots direct users to crisis service providers.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 1 June 2026
The restaurant group declared bankruptcy in March of 2020, as Covid-19 shutdowns exacerbated the group’s financial troubles at the time.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 2 June 2026
Moscow launched the onslaught against threats of heightened aggression, citing a wave of Ukrainian near-daily attacks on Russian oil assets that tanked fuel stocks and exacerbated economic woes.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
California and New York passed laws requiring safeguards to prevent chatbots from exacerbating thoughts of suicide or self-harm, such as requirements that the bots direct users to crisis service providers.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 1 June 2026
The restaurant group declared bankruptcy in March of 2020, as Covid-19 shutdowns exacerbated the group’s financial troubles at the time.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
-
Several years ago, during a medical emergency of my own, I had already been evaluated by a physician and advised to seek emergency care if my symptoms worsened.—
Iyesatta Massaquoi Emeli,
STAT,
2 June 2026
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This is every summer, right now, for the 200,000 people who live here — a public health emergency that is worsening with the global climate crisis and exacerbated even further by an onslaught of irresponsible development.—
Daniela Flores,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
As these political divides deepen, observers doubt the election’s credibility.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
-
Cultural and political divides deepen in the community, and even within the same household, when a woman brings a single migrant woman into her home.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
Verb
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She was ultimately convicted on all 12 counts stemming from their deaths, including murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, and drug possession.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
-
Fiedler is capable of aggravating us but not of boring us.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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As climate pressures intensify, biodiversity shrinks and consumers demand more transparency, the push to preserve older grain varieties and livestock breeds is reshaping what shows up in grocery aisles and on restaurant menus.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
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Climate models predict a continued, long-term decline of snowpack as the effects of climate change intensify.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Rain is forecast on Saturday afternoon, which could complicate the mission which involves navigating steep passageways within the cavern.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
But then things got complicated.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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