aggravate

verb

ˈa-grə-ˌvāt How to pronounce aggravate (audio)
Definition of aggravatenext
1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts it really aggravates me when I arrive 10 minutes before the stated closing time, and the store's closed already

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to worsen
to make more severe overheated rhetoric that only aggravated an already tense situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aggravate With Williams dealing with an injury that’s always tricky for players in this league, there’s no reason to rush him back and risk aggravating it again. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Michigan running back Jordan Marshall appeared to aggravate an injury in the second half. — Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026 Injury report Michigan running back Jordan Marshall appeared to aggravate an injury in the second half. — CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 Stribling suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 and was expected to miss 10 weeks, giving him a timeline to return in November, while Kirk aggravated a calf injury early in training camp and is eligible to return Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
  1. annoy
  2. worsen
  3. irritate
  4. deepen
  5. bother
  6. exacerbate
  7. bug
  8. intensify
Verb
  • Returning the sarcasm tends to cause the same problem, with two people annoyed instead of one.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Williams is annoyed and wants order while Kirke is hardly paying attention and lugs vases of flowers through her home.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • The 20 countries at greatest risk of a worsening humanitarian crisis, ranked by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) annually in our Emergency Watchlist, represent just 12% of the global population, but 90% of those in humanitarian need.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Both have become tools for wealthy families seeking easier travel or a fallback if political and economic conditions worsen at home.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of worsen
Verb
  • Some develop in varicose veins; others form where a needle or IV has irritated a vein.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • So testing a movie that temporarily sounds irritating is really, really hard.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • While security is by far the most pressing priority, new projections from the IMF have revealed the war’s deepening economic toll.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Washington, for its part, is creating friction in many of its partnerships instead of deepening them, and risks squandering its network just as its adversaries are learning to make more of theirs.
    — Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of deepen
Verb
  • Palo Alto Networks did that after buying [Israeli startup] CyberArk, but why would most companies bother?
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That woman was truly unbothered, a term tossed around online, but the literal act of not being bothered is impossible for most people beyond the quirkiest, like my onetime neighbor, or maybe Fran Lebowitz.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of bother
Verb
  • The British Antarctic Survey researchers emphasize that future losses could be exacerbated if emissions are not reduced.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The Santa Ana winds and hot temperatures have exacerbated fire danger in Southern California and forecasters say gusts will likely strengthen.
    — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of exacerbate
Verb
  • And as the team moved into the couple’s guest house on their San Diego rental property, the filmmakers feared that the home was bugged and ordered a device to try to de-bug it, without success.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • He’s bugged Jay — the two met online and married two years ago before opening their first restaurant last year — to make sure that includes his crispy duck panang curry.
    — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of bug
Verb
  • The complex political and economic climate has only intensified their desire to invest their own time and resources in uplifting other Latino and Hispanic creatives.
    — Terry Tang, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Their push intensified as questions emerged about district contracts and payments involving a consultant with ties to Sneed.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of intensify

Browse Nearby Words

aggrandizing
aggravate
aggravated
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Cite this Entry

“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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