as in to worsen
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 exacerbate
That has been exacerbated by the attacks from the right on the signature piece of Trump’s legislation, a tax and spending package that figures like Elon Musk have argued would bankrupt the federal government.
—
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 June 2025
Former Los Angeles deputy district attorney Alfonso Estrada said introducing more federal troops to what is effectively a law-enforcement situation may further exacerbate tensions with protesters, but also with local police who didn’t ask for that help.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 11 June 2025
Grigg added that conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The neglect of physical health can contribute to or exacerbate mental health issues.
—Jess Cording, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 June 2025
Former Los Angeles deputy district attorney Alfonso Estrada said introducing more federal troops to what is effectively a law-enforcement situation may further exacerbate tensions with protesters, but also with local police who didn’t ask for that help.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 11 June 2025
Grigg added that conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The neglect of physical health can contribute to or exacerbate mental health issues.
—Jess Cording, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
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Some locals in Venice, which has dealt with overtourism that has strained the city’s infrastructure and services for years, will protest the wedding over concerns its scale will worsen some of the issues created by excessive tourist crowds.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
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Other inflammatory conditions can also cause back pain that worsens with rest and improves with activity, Dr. Portugal says.—
Katie Camero,
SELF,
20 June 2025
Verb
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Regular briefings with Gartner, Forrester or other industry-specific analysts can yield strategic insights and visibility that deepen over time.—
Rene Musech,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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The fractures that divided Senate Republicans before the bill text was released on June 16 remain – or have deepened – now that the details are clear.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
Verb
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Th1 can aggravate metabolic problems by impairing insulin manufacture, altering insulin signaling and amplifying insulin resistance.—
Smithsonian Magazine,
Smithsonian Magazine,
12 June 2025
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Sevier also would seek damages if testimony indicates that the crash aggravated a pre-existing physical condition.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2025
Verb
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In response, Trump authorized thousands of National Guards to the California city, and 700 Marines arrived on Tuesday, intensifying tensions between the federal and state government.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
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This influx of graduates has significantly intensified competition at the entry level, prompting employers to consider factors beyond academic qualifications when making hiring decisions.—
Kara Dennison,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
Verb
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The answer is complicated, and the eight-episode series does a great job exploring the question from multiple perspectives, but overall, Burns has walked away from the experiment far less concerned that AI will ever become a successful screenwriter.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
13 June 2025
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Newsom did exactly that, but in response to criticism from Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins over how the Los Angeles protests are complicating the department’s services.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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