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
Marvin's departure could exacerbate a leadership vacuum at the agency.
—
Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
Being two skaters short is bad at the best of times; the infirmary list and how close the playoffs are exacerbate the situation.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The lawmakers are concerned that the blueprint will result in a legislative package that will not offset spending with enough cuts, exacerbating the already-ballooning federal deficit.
—Riley Beggin, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
Key challenges, like the risk of exacerbating inequality if access is limited to the rich and the significant energy demands, will need to be addressed.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacerbate
Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
Being two skaters short is bad at the best of times; the infirmary list and how close the playoffs are exacerbate the situation.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The lawmakers are concerned that the blueprint will result in a legislative package that will not offset spending with enough cuts, exacerbating the already-ballooning federal deficit.
—Riley Beggin, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
Key challenges, like the risk of exacerbating inequality if access is limited to the rich and the significant energy demands, will need to be addressed.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 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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In 2023, Williams, who had picked up beat-making as a hobby during the pandemic, sought to deepen his understanding of the form and his long-standing attachment to innovators such as Dilla.—
Sheldon Pearce,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
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As the recession deepened and unemployment shot higher, the interest and the penalties on Natale’s loans compounded much faster than her ability to move up the ladder to higher paying jobs.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Patterson’s departure likely will intensify UM’s efforts to find a starting caliber safety in the portal.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
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In this context of uncertainty, competition intensifies on entry and middle market watches.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Missing their leading scorer and best player will complicate that pursuit.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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Additionally, the digital scan has complicated a controversial narrative about a first officer on the Titanic: William Murdoch, who has long been accused of abandoning his post.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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