exacerbate
verb (used with object)
to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
has exacerbated
-
present perfectof exacerbate (3rd person singular).present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While Algeria regularly experiences forest fires in the summer, climate change has exacerbated the intensity and severity of recent wildfires in the country.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
In India, a rise in cooking-gas prices due to the war has exacerbated labor unrest among factory workers upset over stagnant wages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
Small-town independent theaters are the antithesis of the movie-theater corporatization that has exacerbated our national loneliness.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2025
A tropical storm has exacerbated conditions, and the tolls in Indonesia and Thailand rank among the highest in floods in those countries in recent years.
From Barron's ● Nov. 30, 2025
The slow pace of structural reform, however, has exacerbated Romania's high inflation rate and eroded real wages.
From The 1994 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
