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
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
After Sunday’s game, Roberts revealed that Tommy Edman is dealing with a small fracture in a pinky toe, while Kiké Hernandez has extended elbow soreness that was aggravated Saturday.
—
Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 6 July 2025
Those charges are in addition to misdemeanor counts of inducing panic and aggravated menacing.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Unfortunately, the dust can also pose health concerns, as its fine particulate matter can aggravate allergies and asthma, causing symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Land-use experts warned that pushing the density levels too high would not only aggravate the surrounding neighborhoods but also potentially impact the project’s ability to be built.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 6 July 2025
Those charges are in addition to misdemeanor counts of inducing panic and aggravated menacing.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025
Unfortunately, the dust can also pose health concerns, as its fine particulate matter can aggravate allergies and asthma, causing symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing and nasal congestion.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Land-use experts warned that pushing the density levels too high would not only aggravate the surrounding neighborhoods but also potentially impact the project’s ability to be built.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
-
Francie instantly annoys Nat by kissing Pete hello, and the two women start yelling at each other immediately.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
27 June 2025
-
If visible bulbs and cables annoy you, these aren’t for you.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
This can lead to more frequent awakenings, shallower sleep and worsened airway instability, resulting in more apnea events.—
Matthew Glasser,
ABC News,
30 June 2025
-
Sweden reintroduced a gender-neutral draft in 2017 citing worsening security conditions, while Norway became the first NATO country to implement gender-equal conscription in 2013.—
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
Jake Paul’s everyday unscented face wash avoids irritating fragrances but is infused with vitamin B3 to help keep your skin hydrated.—
Christopher Murray
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
-
Work exposures: If you are frequently exposed to irritating chemicals or substances, your risk of dermatitis is higher.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
29 June 2025
Verb
-
His remarks signal that military co-operation between Moscow and Pyongyang is likely to deepen.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
-
This kind of downtime is rare for both of them, and it’s really allowed their bond to deepen.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
If Waldron wasn’t battered, then Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was hardly bothered.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 June 2025
-
While notification bundles were an option before, they were primarily used for messaging, and not all developers bothered.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
In this case, that sticker shock could be exacerbated by a price increase that's already hitting coffee.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 July 2025
-
Those will be exacerbated by funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s new spending law.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Say your mother kept bugging you to change a bad habit.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
-
Next season is when all the little things start to bug me.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Russia recently has intensified its airstrikes on civilian areas.—
Aamer Madhani,
Chicago Tribune,
8 July 2025
-
Recent layoff announcements have only intensified these concerns.—
C200,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share