as in annoying
causing annoyance
there's nothing so aggravating as a blaring car alarm that no one is paying any attention to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in irritating
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worsening
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
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Recent Examples of aggravating
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
These 2025 Best of Beauty Award winners offer all the overprotective pros without any aggravating cons.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Adjective
The jury found aggravating factors in the case, which means the judge could sentence her beyond the guidelines set for her, MPR reports.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
These 2025 Best of Beauty Award winners offer all the overprotective pros without any aggravating cons.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
Venus aggravating Uranus tests your ability to roll with the punches.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravating
Adjective
-
Even sage advice given in an annoying manner will eventually be ignored, and the lord at last was driven out of his own house.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Los Angeles, where the produce is so fresh and enticing as to induce tears and the reservation culture is not nearly as annoying as New York, is a sprawling city with a sprawling food scene.—
Jocelyn Silver,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ink merges into breast milk, tranquillity and space to think are filled with irritating barking, and Lawrence loses herself to the madness.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Combining three different actives (AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs) in one product without totally irritating the skin seems like an impossible task, yet Some by Mi has accomplished it with this ease.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At the time, Jassy attributed the job cuts to a worsening global economic outlook.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Speaking from Toronto, where he is currently based, Persaud emphasized that while pre-storm aid delivery is limited due to worsening conditions, the real challenge will begin after the hurricane passes.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten off to a frustrating start to their 2025-26 campaign.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The divorce led to accusations of physical abuse and a frustrating and costly custody battle.—
Brian Martin,
Oc Register,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Talk through what’s bothering you to gain a compassionate perspective.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While the war was at full tilt, Har-Melech’s minority settler faction had been able to exercise outsize influence over Netanyahu’s decision making, deepening Israel’s entanglement in Gaza.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
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Panama Canal at Center of US-China Tensions China has been deepening its ties with states in Central and South America and has developed important strategic relationships with Brazil, Venezuela and Peru.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So much of what happens in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is disturbing — in particular, the character of Leatherface, the menacing, basement-dwelling killer who eats people and wears their faces after killing them.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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What makes this even more disturbing is the involvement of teenagers, alcohol, and guns at a large house party.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Co-worker bugging you during heads down time?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravating. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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