aggravate

verb ag·gra·vate \ ˈa-grə-ˌvāt \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Usage guide: Common Uses of aggravate, aggravation, and aggravating

Examples: aggravate in a Sentence

Definition of aggravate

aggravated; aggravating

transitive verb

1 : to make worse, more serious, or more severe : to intensify unpleasantly

problems have been aggravated by neglect

2 a : to rouse to displeasure or anger by usually persistent and often petty goading

were aggravated by the noise and traffic

b : to produce inflammation in

3 obsolete

a : to make heavy : burden

b : increase

See aggravate defined for English-language learners

See aggravate defined for kids

Common Uses of aggravate, aggravation, and aggravating

Although aggravate has been used to refer to rousing someone to anger since the 17th century, it has been the object of disapproval only since about 1870. It is used in expository prose

- when his silly conceit … about his not-very-good early work has begun to aggravate us
- —William Styron

but seems to be more common in speech and casual writing.

- a good profession for him, because bus drivers get aggravated
- —Jackie Gleason, interview, 1986
- & now this letter comes to aggravate me a thousand times worse
- —Mark Twain, letter, 1864

The "make worse" meaning is far more common in published prose than the "rouse to anger" meaning. Such is not the case, however, with aggravation and aggravating. Aggravation is used in the "irritation, provocation" sense somewhat more than in its earlier senses; aggravating has practically no use other than to express annoyance.

Examples of aggravate in a Sentence

She aggravated an old knee injury.
They're afraid that we might aggravate an already bad situation.
A headache can be aggravated by too much exercise.
The symptoms were aggravated by drinking alcohol.
All of these delays really aggravate me.
Our neighbors were aggravated by all the noise.

Recent Examples of aggravate from the Web

Cosby has since been found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Constand in 2004.

— lauren huff, The Hollywood Reporter, "Bill Cosby Accuser Andrea Constand: "It Was Dr. Huxtable... Who's Going to Believe Me?"," 2 June 2018
Cosby has since been found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Constand in 2004.

— lauren huff, Billboard, "Bill Cosby Accuser Andrea Constand: 'It Was Dr. Huxtable... Who's Going to Believe Me?'," 2 June 2018
Bill Cosby was found guilty on all three counts of aggravated indecent assault on Thursday.

— erin jensen, USA TODAY, "Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand: 'I was crying out inside' but 'couldn't do anything'," 31 May 2018
He is charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and single counts of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, theft and fleeing and eluding.

— joe robertson, kansascity, "DA says Lenexa police shooting of man in fleeing car was justified | The Kansas City Star," 23 May 2018
Schwertz, who was 41 at the time, was arrested in March 2008 and accused of multiple counts of aggravated rape and child molestation involving boys at Abney Elementary School.

— bob warren, NOLA.com, "Decade later, judge hears St. Tammany student rape suit," 21 May 2018
The comedian, who was found guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault in April, faces up to 30 years in prison and a $25,000 fine for each count.

— niki mcgloster, Essence.com, "The Quick Read: Tiffany Haddish Says She And Beyoncé Are "Cool" After Biting Story Went Viral," 17 May 2018
The 12-member jury took about three hours to find Grate guilty of eight charges, including two counts of aggravated murder and kidnapping.

— steve helling, PEOPLE.com, "Admitted Serial Killer — Caught After Surviving Victim Called 911 — Convicted of Murdering 2 Women," 9 May 2018
Cosby, 80, has been accused by more than five dozen women of being a serial rapist, but his conviction is on three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in 2004.

— chris mayhew, Cincinnati.com, "University of Cincinnati may revoke Bill Cosby’s honorary degree," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aggravate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of aggravate

borrowed from Latin aggravātus, past participle of aggravāre "to weigh down, burden, oppress, make worse," from ad- ad- + gravāre "to make heavy, weigh down," verbal derivative of gravis "heavy" — more at grieve

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

in the meaning defined at sense 3

See Words from the same year

aggravate Synonyms

AGGRAVATE Defined for English Language Learners

aggravate

verb

Definition of aggravate for English Language Learners

: to make (an injury, problem, etc.) more serious or severe
: to make (someone) angry : to annoy or bother (someone)

AGGRAVATE Defined for Kids

aggravate

verb ag·gra·vate \ ˈa-grə-ˌvāt \

Definition of aggravate for Students

aggravated; aggravating

1 : to make worse or more serious

aggravate an injury

Don't aggravate an already bad situation.

2 : to make angry usually by bothering again and again

All of these delays really aggravate me.

Word Root of aggravate

The Latin word gravis, meaning “heavy” or “serious,” gives us the root grav. Words from the Latin gravis have something to do with heaviness or seriousness. Something grave, or important, such as a situation, requires serious thought and consideration. To aggravate is to make a situation more serious. Gravity is a force that pulls everything towards the ground making it feel heavy.

Medical Dictionary

aggravate

transitive verb ag·gra·vate \ ˈag-rə-ˌvāt \

medical Definition of aggravate

aggravated; aggravating

1 : to make worse, more serious, or more severe

movement may aggravate the pain

2 : to produce inflammation in : irritate

surgery aggravated the nerve

Law Dictionary

aggravate

transitive verb ag·gra·vate \ ˈa-grə-ˌvāt \

legal Definition of aggravate

aggravated; aggravating

: to make more serious, more severe, or worse

maliciousness aggravated the offense

aggravating factors

— compare mitigate

—

aggravation

play \ˌa-grə-ˈvā-shən\ noun

Learn More about aggravate

See words that rhyme with aggravate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for aggravate Spanish Central: Translation of aggravate Nglish: Translation of aggravate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of aggravate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up aggravate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

aggravate

Definition of aggravate

Common Uses of aggravate, aggravation, and aggravating

Examples of aggravate in a Sentence

Recent Examples of aggravate from the Web

Origin and Etymology of aggravate

aggravate Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

AGGRAVATE Defined for English Language Learners

aggravate

Definition of aggravate for English Language Learners

AGGRAVATE Defined for Kids

aggravate

Definition of aggravate for Students

Word Root of aggravate

Medical Dictionary

aggravate

medical Definition of aggravate

Law Dictionary

aggravate

legal Definition of aggravate

aggravation

Learn More about aggravate

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

If the Shoe Fits

On the Disruption of 'Disrupt'

Trending: 'Asylum' Trends as Policies Draw Attention

Name More Food!

Ghost Word