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
When asked if there was one particular incident that aggravated the knee, Webb pointed to his recent start against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 30.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
These areas are especially vulnerable to heat, sweat and friction—all of which can aggravate the condition.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
The House Democratic campaign arm’s endorsements in two competitive primaries are aggravating some in the party who see favoritism at work.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
Ingram aggravated a heel injury that bothered him late in the regular season in the second quarter of Wednesday’s Game 5.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
These areas are especially vulnerable to heat, sweat and friction—all of which can aggravate the condition.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
The House Democratic campaign arm’s endorsements in two competitive primaries are aggravating some in the party who see favoritism at work.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
Ingram aggravated a heel injury that bothered him late in the regular season in the second quarter of Wednesday’s Game 5.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
-
That’s what so annoys Erika at some point.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
-
But if creases annoy you, look elsewhere.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Airfares were already rising when Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, and the loss of the discount carrier is expected to worsen the trend for travelers.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
-
Foreign investors continue to be bearish on India due to weak earnings and the worsening economic impact from the rising global oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Breathing its vapors can irritate the skin, eyes and mucous membranes in humans, and may cause allergic reactions.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
-
Wash your gardening tools and gloves with rubbing alcohol or soapy water to remove the plant's irritating oil.—
Caroline Biggs,
Martha Stewart,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Since Ian, Orange County has deepened stormwater ponds in the area and repaired damaged pumps to improve flood storage and drainage before future storms.—
Greg Bennett,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
-
The co-op war in the heart of brownstone Brooklyn comes against a backdrop of deepening antipathy between supporters of Israel and Palestine across New York.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
In a funny touch of feminist commentary, the Pounds parents are intent on their bratty son Andrew (Hamnet survivor Jacobi Jupe) getting the best possible education but less bothered about glum daughter Drissila (Evie Templeton).—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
What bothers him most, however, is the suggestion that neo-soul lacked authenticity or cultural purpose.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
But undersea cables in the Red Sea have already seen a spate of damage in recent years, exacerbated by lengthy repair times and attacks by Houthi rebels allied with Iran.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
-
Shortfalls are more severe in areas with major projects such as semiconductor fabrication facilities, exacerbated by the fact that about one-fifth of electricians are over 55, said ABC chief economist Anirban Basu.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects.—
Sarah Linn
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But the indictment’s most consequential allegations center on what happened after Washington intensified sanctions pressure on Venezuela’s oil industry beginning in 2019.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
-
Higher output at sea The findings arrive as governments worldwide intensify efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and expand renewable energy generation in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
