will only exacerbate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will only exacerbate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a certain action or situation will worsen an existing problem or issue. Example: "If we ignore the warning signs, our current situation will only exacerbate the crisis we are facing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"And this will only exacerbate it".

The New York Times

On the contrary, austerity will only exacerbate the economic slowdown.

The Guardian - Business

Piketty predicts that Trump will only exacerbate the problem.

The Guardian

Fear of new sanctions will only exacerbate the trend.

The Washington Post

Erdogan's pyrrhic victory will only exacerbate the country's polarization.

The Washington Post

But that approach will only exacerbate the risks.

MIT Technology Review

Delaying these vital decisions will only exacerbate the issue".

Independent

Their worry is that Labour in power in Edinburgh will only exacerbate the nationalist tide.

The Guardian

That's too much of a stretch, and will only exacerbate the potential emergency-evacuee effect.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Getting angry with this person will only exacerbate the impotence you already feel.

The Guardian - Opinion

The mayor's new $494 million tax-cut package will only exacerbate the problem, both men said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will only exacerbate" to emphasize the worsening effect of a specific action or decision on an existing problem. This phrase is most effective when you want to highlight the negative consequences of inaction or a particular course of action.

Common error

While "will only exacerbate" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more nuanced alternatives like "will further complicate" or "will contribute to the deterioration of" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will only exacerbate" functions as a modal verb phrase used to express a future outcome. It indicates that a particular action or situation is predicted to worsen an existing problem. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage across different domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will only exacerbate" is a versatile modal verb phrase used to express the idea that a specific action or situation will worsen an existing problem. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, scientific, and formal business writing. While its neutral tone makes it broadly applicable, remember to consider more nuanced alternatives for highly formal contexts. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively use "will only exacerbate" to convey caution and highlight potential negative consequences in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will merely worsen

Replaces "exacerbate" with a simpler synonym, reducing formality.

will simply aggravate

Substitutes "exacerbate" with "aggravate", suggesting a similar but slightly more intense negative impact.

will only compound

Replaces "exacerbate" with "compound", emphasizing the accumulation of negative effects.

will undoubtedly worsen

Adds "undoubtedly" to emphasize the certainty of the negative outcome.

will certainly intensify

Uses "intensify" to convey a strengthening or deepening of the problem.

will only fuel

Employs "fuel" to suggest that the problem will be energized or made more active.

will only worsen the situation

Adds context by specifying that the situation will worsen, providing greater clarity.

is bound to escalate

Uses "escalate" to indicate a rapid increase or intensification of the problem.

will serve to amplify

Replaces "exacerbate" with "amplify", highlighting the expansion or magnification of the issue.

will contribute to the deterioration of

More formal and descriptive, specifying a contribution to a decline or decay.

FAQs

How can I use "will only exacerbate" in a sentence?

You can use "will only exacerbate" to indicate that a certain action or situation will worsen an existing problem. For example, "Ignoring the warning signs "will only exacerbate" the crisis we are facing."

What can I say instead of "will only exacerbate"?

You can use alternatives like "will only worsen", "will only aggravate", or "will only compound" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "will only exacerbate" and "will only worsen"?

"Will only exacerbate" implies making something that is already bad even worse, often suggesting an existing problem is being intensified. "Will only worsen" is a more general term indicating something will become bad, without necessarily implying an existing problem being intensified. However, both can often be used interchangeably.

Is "will only exacerbate" a formal or informal expression?

"Will only exacerbate" is considered a neutral expression suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, you might consider alternatives like "will further complicate" or "will contribute to the deterioration of" for added sophistication.