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
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Recent Examples of aggravate
He was removed from last Sunday’s game against the Mets after aggravating his hamstring running out a single.
—
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2026
Finding timely health care has been hard, aggravated by a lack of transportation.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 8 June 2026
Koeninger, a Tennessee signee, was noticeably missing from the batting order after aggravating a left-hand injury last week.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
His full recovery is anticipated, although, turning 39 during the Cup on June 24, the possibility of aggravating the muscle might be a concern to monitor.
—Greg Cote
june 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2026
Finding timely health care has been hard, aggravated by a lack of transportation.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 8 June 2026
Koeninger, a Tennessee signee, was noticeably missing from the batting order after aggravating a left-hand injury last week.
—Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026
His full recovery is anticipated, although, turning 39 during the Cup on June 24, the possibility of aggravating the muscle might be a concern to monitor.
—Greg Cote
june 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
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Damian used to get annoyed with his father's motivational chats about responsibility.—
Claudia Boyd-Barrett,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Three hours before the parade is set to begin, paradegoers are already annoyed at the disorganization and slow-moving lines.—
Matt Nighswander,
NBC news,
18 June 2026
Verb
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On top of the usual risks that come with surgery, a botched revision can mean permanent scarring, loss of nasal support, worsened breathing, or a result that's structurally too compromised to correct again.—
Victoria Oliva,
Allure,
23 June 2026
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Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that worsens over time and occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred, according to Mayo Clinic.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
23 June 2026
Verb
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Residents were advised that while smoke may be irritating—particularly for those sensitive to air quality—there is currently no order for evacuation or shelter-in-place, despite a similar order already having been issued and lifted twice since the fire's ignition.—
Iris Salem,
CBS News,
20 June 2026
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Ammonia is a common industrial chemical that can irritate the eyes and respiratory system when present in elevated concentrations.—
Sydney Barragan,
Daily News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Starmer has vowed to fight any leadership contest, deepening the sense of crisis within the Labour Party.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
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In the years following 2020, cities nationwide experienced alarming increases in homicides, shootings and other crime as the COVID-19 pandemic upended daily life, destabilized local economies and deepened distrust in public institutions.—
Diane Goldstein,
Mercury News,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Oh, and more often than not, nobody bothers to check whether the change intervention actually worked, or whether leaders improve their performance after all!—
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.—
Tyler Quattrin,
Twin Cities,
19 June 2026
Verb
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These kits, sold as convenient emergency solutions, are criticized for exacerbating the global crisis of antibiotic resistance (AMR).—
Robert Glatter,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
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The aftermath of Lord’s only exacerbated those differences.—
Paul Newman,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Verb
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The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
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His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Hundreds of records have been broken, with many more set to fall as the heat intensifies Wednesday and Thursday.—
Taylor Ward,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
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Health concerns intensify over smoke Residents have been voicing their concerns about the potential long-term environmental and health impacts caused by the large blaze.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
23 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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