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
Winter rains and snowmelt exacerbate the damage, eroding tread and compromising retaining walls.
—
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
These new cuts are also further exacerbated by the administration’s previous slashes to public health funding for state and local governments.
—Simon F. Haeder, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
These economic pressures have been further exacerbated by tariffs and now trade wars, particularly with China.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
This reduction in assistance could exacerbate food insecurity and negatively affect retailers that serve low-income communities.
—Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
These new cuts are also further exacerbated by the administration’s previous slashes to public health funding for state and local governments.
—Simon F. Haeder, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025
These economic pressures have been further exacerbated by tariffs and now trade wars, particularly with China.
—Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025
This reduction in assistance could exacerbate food insecurity and negatively affect retailers that serve low-income communities.
—Solange Charas, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
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Eventually, those with ALS often experience trouble talking, walking, and swallowing, and the symptoms worsen over time.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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Rolling back rules will take time, but America’s air quality could worsen in the interim.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The tensions have deepened since U.S. President Donald Trump raised the possibility of Palestinians from the devastated Gaza Strip moving into Egypt, a suggestion that Cairo has rejected.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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But, in its second half, the series deepens wonderfully.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Second baseman Gleyber Torres rested his sore ribs on Saturday after aggravating the area with a home-run swing the previous day.—
Joe Guillen,
Axios,
1 Apr. 2025
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She was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault, reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failure to yield to a red light and speeding, cops said.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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But even as China’s drills have intensified, and its missiles, warships and fighter jets have advanced, many experts have doubted that the Chinese military could cross the Taiwan Strait with the speed and numbers needed for a successful invasion.—
Chris Buckley,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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That Rocked Myanmar and Thailand But recovery efforts—including understanding the full extent of the damage and getting aid to where it’s needed most—are complicated by Myanmar’s ongoing civil war.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
3 Apr. 2025
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The Trump administration’s retributive style complicates those questions.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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