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
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
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Perhaps Trump just wanted to annoy his counterparts, especially those on the continent.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
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But Cotton, annoyed by Hank’s indirectness and emotion, browbeats his son.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
Verb
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This misinformation can also lead to insurance denials, distorted retirement planning, and worsened stigma.—
Jennifer Jay Palumbo,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Most of the Corn Belt and Midwest remain drought-free, except for northern Illinois where conditions worsened, the agency said.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 July 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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His remarks signal that military co-operation between Moscow and Pyongyang is likely to deepen.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 July 2025
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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
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There’s something delicious about sipping lemonade after a dip in the pool, looking down from the balcony at the day-trippers all hot and bothered below.—
Richard Godwin,
Travel + Leisure,
12 July 2025
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Chisholm, the Yankees’ hottest hitter over the last month or so, has said that the shoulder bothers him more in the field than at the plate.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
11 July 2025
Verb
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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
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Those will be exacerbated by funding cuts in President Donald Trump’s new spending law.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Say your mother kept bugging you to change a bad habit.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Next season is when all the little things start to bug me.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But as the strikes intensified, targeting infrastructure and killing ordinary citizens, many Iranians began to conclude that the attacks were not merely a war against the regime but a war against the nation itself.—
MOHAMMAD AYATOLLAHI TABAAR,
Foreign Affairs,
8 July 2025
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Kenya’s government withdrew the tax bill in June last year in the wake of the demonstrations, but outrage has intensified over the recent death of a teacher in police custody and the shooting of an unarmed street vendor by police.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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