aggravates

verb

present tense third-person singular of aggravate
1
as in annoys
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

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2
as in deepens
to make more severe overheated rhetoric that only aggravated an already tense situation

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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 aggravates Social pressures intensify as the Aries moon aggravates Mars. — Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026 Regardless, the lure of short-form cricket aggravates the Test situation. — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026 But when Dusty takes a tumble and aggravates his old wrist injury, that puts him out of the running. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026 The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions. — Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 The light that aggravates her pigmentation isn't only coming from the sky. — Angela Haupt, Time, 7 July 2026 What’s clear is that obesity aggravates matters. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 June 2026 Flood conditions in Northern Lower Michigan have become increasingly dire in recent days, as heavy rainfall aggravates the winter snowmelt in the region. — Terrance Friday, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026 Smoke from wildfires penetrates deep into the lungs and aggravates respiratory disease more than any other type of pollution. — Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravates
  1. annoys
  2. deepens
  3. bothers
  4. complicates
  5. irritates
  6. exacerbates
  7. persecutes
  8. worsens
Verb
  • That very same thing is what annoys Liz about Charles 500 years later.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But Turner is a symbol for everything that annoys people about the Phillies.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of annoys
Verb
  • The measure targets Central Valley and Central Coast lands facing strict groundwater pumping limits, offering a lifeline for growers as climate change deepens droughts.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • This is the rare prequel that deepens and complicates the world of the original — and the rare lower-budget sequel that manages to look and sound great years later.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of deepens
Verb
  • That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal.
    — Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about this scam is that criminals are going after people who may have the fewest options to protect themselves.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothers
Verb
  • This is the rare prequel that deepens and complicates the world of the original — and the rare lower-budget sequel that manages to look and sound great years later.
    — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Buss’ lawsuit, filed in a Los Angeles County Superior Court this week, complicates an already-turbulent sales process for the Lakers that will ultimately require NBA approval.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of complicates
Verb
  • With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.
    — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants.
    — Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026
Definition of irritates
Verb
  • And the backwards focus exacerbates the lag in responding to those changes, with potentially serious macroeconomic consequences.
    — George Calhoun, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • As climate change exacerbates the heat, experts say the negative effects of sizzling classrooms are here to stay, especially in school districts that may not have the resources to combat hotter weather.
    — Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exacerbates
Verb
  • China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.
    — Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Definition of persecutes
Verb
  • Therefore, analysts note that if extreme weather worsens water and power scarcity, the impact could ripple through the entire semiconductor supply chain.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Ford said in an interview published Monday that Canada should be prepared to cut off electricity exports to the United States if the trade war worsens, putting a potentially powerful weapon on the table.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of worsens

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Cite this Entry

“Aggravates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravates. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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