Exasperated? Exacerbated?

"Wages have not kept up with the pace of inflation, and the pandemic has exasperated the situation."  I read that online and laughed.  Here's what that word means and what the correct word should have been.

ex·as·per·ate / iɡ ˈzaspəˌrāt / verb
to irritate, frustrate, or annoy (someone) intensely.
Example = "My silliness exasperated my mother, but the current situation was NOT annoyed by the pandemic."

ex·ac·er·bate / iɡˈzasərˌbāt / verb
to make (a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling) worse.
Example = "The pandemic exacerbated the money problems of many people."