We studied exciton-carrier interactions in hole-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) through the absorption spectral changes. Broadening and blue-shifting of the exciton absorption peak in hole-doped SWNTs are observed with increasing the concentration of the p-type chemical dopant. The absorption broadening is attributed to exciton decoherence due to exciton-hole scattering. The broadening increment (similar to 40 meV.nm/hole) is much smaller than that of low-dimensional compound semiconductors because of restricted elastic scattering paths in SWNTs. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4710532]