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

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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
  • What annoys me is that this whole thing is called Roaring 20th, so why was there not a flapper and Great Gatsby theme?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Coach Rhett Lashlee was already annoyed with special teams coming into the game, and that was before the Mustangs botched two PAT attempts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • Some experts point to worsening public health since the 2008 financial crisis, citing factors such as growing obesity, long hospital waiting times, the cost-of-living crisis and other social causes.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026
  • His latest promise — which, like the others, would require approval from Congress — would probably cost more than $1 trillion, adding to the ballooning deficit and worsening inflation.
    — Melissa Goldin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of worsen
Verb
  • The first step to brighter-looking underarms is figuring out what might be irritating them in the first place.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Another person may approach the goal differently, which could be useful rather than irritating.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese President To Lam met in Canberra last month, pledging to deepen their partnership on issues like defense and trade.
    — Shibani Mahtani, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
  • What’s more, its growth runway could widen materially as the Huntsville, Alabama, company deepens its relationships with disruptive defense innovator Anduril Industries and space-launch leader SpaceX .
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of deepen
Verb
  • After all, casinos don’t bother to make distinctions, labeling all winning systems as criminal.
    — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Still bothered by nagging arm and knee issues, Ohtani batted second behind Betts.
    — Beth Harris, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of bother
Verb
  • The war in Iran has driven diesel prices up and lowered supply, but Russia and Ukraine’s targeting of one another’s energy infrastructure has further exacerbated the issue.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Mainstream political parties previously avoided publicly advocating for a return to the European Union out of concern over alienating voters in pro Brexit regions and exacerbating societal polarization.
    — , CNBC, 2 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
  • As a Bears fan, McDermott doesn’t want to disrupt the team and bug McCaskey or Warren too much.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of bug
Verb
  • Moscow and Kyiv have intensified their aerial assaults as progress along the 750-mile front line has largely ground to a halt.
    — HANNA ARHIROVA, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Another major challenge is intensifying domestic competition and labor shortages as Japan’s birth rate declines and its population ages, Nagai said.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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