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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exacerbate Lister said that while recent events may exacerbate US skepticism on Syria’s new government, European countries are keen to see the interim government stabilize the country. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025 Foods and Drinks to Avoid Some foods and drinks promote inflammation and may exacerbate your allergy symptoms. Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Mar. 2025 Ted Kaczynski, then a 17-year-old Harvard student who would later become known as the Unabomber, was subjected to psychological experiments, according to The Washington Post, that may have exacerbated his schizophrenia. Jessica Sager, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025 The mass resignations exacerbated an already politically fraught situation for Adams, who’s up for reelection this June. Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbate
Verb
  • Elsewhere in the Keys, worsening water quality has been identified as one of the factors responsible for a decline in bonefish and tarpon, and the devastation of Florida's coral reefs.
    Greg Allen, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
  • In the next episode, which followed the premiere, the feud continued to worsen.
    Liza Esquibias, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • What’s Next: The Fed, Earnings, and More Tariff Talk As investors look forward, the focus shifts to a few catalysts that could either stabilize markets or deepen the decline: The Federal Reserve’s next moves, a fresh batch of economic data, Russia Ukraine Peace talks, and the ongoing trade war.
    Adam Sarhan, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Both prove facile stabs at deepening their male counterparts.
    J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Martinez Mendoza has been charged with one count each of aggravated discharge of a firearm-direction of an occupied vehicle and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon-no FOID.
    Courier-News, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025
  • After his release, the driver of the Ford truck was taken into custody and booked into the Ada County Jail on suspicion of felony aggravated driving under the influence, according to jail records.
    Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • One reason is likely intensifying EV competition, especially from companies like China’s BYD.
    Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
  • But that pressure has been intensified by the Trump administration – especially on the offshore wind industry.
    Matt Egan, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That’s the one thing that could get complicated, at least from a hitter’s perspective.
    LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Figuring out the best time to apply can be complicated.
    Liz Weston, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

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