as in worsening
to make more severe
a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem
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Recent Examples of exacerbating
The Saudi Foreign Ministry also warned in a statement that the strikes were exacerbating tensions in the region.
—
Sarah Dean, NBC news, 12 June 2026
Inflation crossed 4 percent for the first time in three years in May, exacerbating Americans’ pain at the pump and dealing a fresh political blow to the White House, as the Iran war’s toll on consumers shows no sign of abating.
—Andrew Ackerman, Washington Post, 10 June 2026
Another flare-up in tensions in Iran is exacerbating the negative sentiment.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 10 June 2026
The cost of running the A/C is exacerbating the problem.
—Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Over the course of two summers, the Kings weakened the fulcrum of their roster by losing Matt Roy and Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency, then exacerbating matters by casting off Jordan Spence for a modest return.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 9 June 2026
Entrance exams like the SAT and ACT have long been criticized for exacerbating racial inequality.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 3 June 2026
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) may be exacerbating this, as its potential to augment skills accrues to workers who already have skills, rather than to those at the start of their careers.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026
This destroys the trust necessary for public health to function and forces the most vulnerable families into the shadows, exacerbating the very health inequities the city claims to be fighting.
—Dr. Mattie Renn, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
Sarah Dean, NBC news, 12 June 2026
Inflation crossed 4 percent for the first time in three years in May, exacerbating Americans’ pain at the pump and dealing a fresh political blow to the White House, as the Iran war’s toll on consumers shows no sign of abating.
—Andrew Ackerman, Washington Post, 10 June 2026
Another flare-up in tensions in Iran is exacerbating the negative sentiment.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 10 June 2026
The cost of running the A/C is exacerbating the problem.
—Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 10 June 2026
Over the course of two summers, the Kings weakened the fulcrum of their roster by losing Matt Roy and Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency, then exacerbating matters by casting off Jordan Spence for a modest return.
—Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 9 June 2026
Entrance exams like the SAT and ACT have long been criticized for exacerbating racial inequality.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 3 June 2026
The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) may be exacerbating this, as its potential to augment skills accrues to workers who already have skills, rather than to those at the start of their careers.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 June 2026
This destroys the trust necessary for public health to function and forces the most vulnerable families into the shadows, exacerbating the very health inequities the city claims to be fighting.
—Dr. Mattie Renn, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbating
Verb
-
Simsbury residents have reacted with widespread opposition, largely based on concerns about overdevelopment, worsening traffic, a costly spike in school enrollments and unwelcome change to what traditionally has been a semi-rural town.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
-
At the same time, the National divide over slavery was worsening.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Inside Ecole National Republique de Colombie in the Turgeau neighborhood where 1,246 individuals live in squalor, residents uprooted by gangs described lives defined by deepening hunger and increasingly inhumane conditions.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
-
Alo, the fashion and wellness brand best known for its athleisure, is deepening its beauty offering with two introductions.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Sarandon brings a welcome unpredictability to Sylvia, complicating a character who might otherwise have curdled into cliche.—
Natalia Winkelman,
Variety,
16 June 2026
-
That period was marred by thousands of disappearances and deaths, shaping Lebanese distrust and complicating feelings toward Syria.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacerbating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbating. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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