exacerbate
verb (used with object)
to increase the severity, bitterness, or violence of (disease, ill feeling, etc.); aggravate.
is exacerbating
-
present progressiveof exacerbate (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate 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.
The anticipated jump in cooling costs is exacerbating the financial pressure many are already feeling as inflation sits at a three-year high.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
Efforts to address the depletion of groundwater present complex challenges for communities and government agencies in Arizona, California and other Western states, where climate change is exacerbating strains on water supplies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 13, 2026
A 41-year-old real-estate agent in Shiraz said the currency drop is exacerbating food-price inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 30, 2025
But Tesla's marketing strategy, or lack thereof, is exacerbating the problem, according to Gerber.
From Salon ● Mar. 4, 2025
The addition of nearly 100 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine.
From The 1993 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
