exacerbates

verb

present tense third-person singular of exacerbate
as in deepens
to make more severe a misconceived plan that only exacerbated the city's traffic problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 exacerbates In the war-and-plague story of Volume II, the wartime siege of Constantinople exacerbates the extreme heat and causes the ruin of the city as well as the eventual spread of the epidemic from the battlefields to the wider world. — Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 Advocates say the practice of forcing people to sell homes exacerbates long-standing income disparities in the state. — Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026 Agentic speed greatly exacerbates the problem before a human review catches it. — Madhu Shashanka, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026 On Wednesday, his attorney, Jacob Kaplan, said that the treatment for his cancer exacerbates his heart condition and will continue to lead to hospitalizations. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026 Biossance’s Squalane + 10% Lactic Acid Resurfacing Serum pairs it with exfoliating lactic acid to slough away the dry skin that exacerbates the appearance of wrinkles. — Emily Orofino, Allure, 15 Sep. 2026 Sharp knives already pose a risk of injury; a wobbly cutting board only exacerbates that risk. — Melissa Breyer, Martha Stewart, 15 Sep. 2026 High blood sugar exacerbates inflammation, especially for people with insulin resistance or diabetes. — Sunny Sea Gold, HEALTH, 7 Sep. 2026 As climate change exacerbates the heat, experts say the negative effects of sizzling classrooms are here to stay, especially in school districts that may not have the resources to combat hotter weather. — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacerbates
  1. deepens
  2. aggravates
  3. complicates
  4. worsens
  5. intensifies
Verb
  • Sigurd’s departure only deepens this cynicism, which Livia clings to for 27 years — until the pair reconnect on the phone for a truly excruciating conversation.
    — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • What’s more, its growth runway could widen materially as the Huntsville, Alabama, company deepens its relationships with disruptive defense innovator Anduril Industries and space-launch leader SpaceX .
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of deepens
Verb
  • Consider your current conditioning, access to equipment, and whether the movement aggravates your joints or an injury.
    — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Social pressures intensify as the Aries moon aggravates Mars.
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggravates
Verb
  • Iran war complicates interest rate debate Earlier this year, the FOMC wrestled with lowering rates versus holding them steady despite higher prices.
    — Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
  • This high salt content complicates conventional whey processing, while the combination of salt and a large amount of organic material also makes simply dumping the stuff a bad idea.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of complicates
Verb
  • Ask yourself what scenario is going to provide your brother with the best care, especially as his condition worsens and his needs change.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The musician, 60, sat down with Tamron Hall for a candid conversation about living with Parkinson’s disease, which affects the nervous system, can affect movement and often worsens over time.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of worsens
Verb
  • The disclosure intensifies criticism of officials who dismissed concerns about sailors’ conditions as the administration offers no clear timeline for ending the war.
    — Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Deforestation contributes to erosion, damages biodiverse areas, threatens wildlife and humans who rely on the forest, and intensifies disasters from extreme weather.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of intensifies

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exacerbates
exacerbating
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Cite this Entry

“Exacerbates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacerbates. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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