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
What led up to this alert Cheboygan is one of several areas of concern in Michigan, where snowmelt from winter storms aggravated by additional rain overtook riverbanks and low-lying areas.
—
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite requesting $250,000 in damages, Sanders was awarded $300,000 for the emotional pain, suffering and mental anguish; 75% of which was aggravated by the incident.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors cited Hunter’s past homicide convictions as aggravating factors to persuade the jury to recommend his execution.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
Flood watches are in effect for northern parts of Wisconsin and Michigan where multiple rounds of rainfall this week could aggravate ongoing river flooding and send more rivers surging.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Despite requesting $250,000 in damages, Sanders was awarded $300,000 for the emotional pain, suffering and mental anguish; 75% of which was aggravated by the incident.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors cited Hunter’s past homicide convictions as aggravating factors to persuade the jury to recommend his execution.
—Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026
Flood watches are in effect for northern parts of Wisconsin and Michigan where multiple rounds of rainfall this week could aggravate ongoing river flooding and send more rivers surging.
—Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
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As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the president doesn’t get annoyed with him once or twice.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
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Maybe annoyed enough to fix it.—
Nathan Edwards,
The Verge,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The scale and location of the development have drawn concern from some residents, who say the project could worsen traffic congestion and may not be affordable for middle-class families.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
28 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, the global memory crisis has worsened, forcing tech giants to pay up for the capacity needed to satisfy their data center ambitions.—
Jordan Novet,Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Valve’s timing also coincided with a tenuous time for Windows, when Microsoft was asking users to move from Windows 10 to Windows 11, an OS with a reputation for being irritating and having higher system requirements.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
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What surprised me the most is how the fragrance doesn’t irritate my skin.—
Rylee Johnston,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Renewable energy The global oil crisis has only deepened the desire by many countries to transition to clean energy, which could be a boon for the sector.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
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Compared to other regions in the country, Dubrovnik could be harder hit if the fuel crisis deepens because of its location at the southern tip of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline.—
Darko Bandic,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
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After a frustrating conversation with a hotel staffer about the air conditioning, a hot and bothered Fuller threw on a ball cap, turned it backward and recorded a rant on his cellphone.—
Tia Mitchell,
AJC.com,
1 May 2026
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Nine months after Varland was traded, Twins fans are still bothered the hometown kid isn’t clicking for them instead, especially given recent results from Minnesota’s bullpen.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Plus, mental illnesses can be triggered and exacerbated by life circumstances.—
Aneri Pattani,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
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However, because lower rates can exacerbate inflation, which remains above the Fed’s 2% target, the Fed has left its overnight lending rate alone at its past two meetings.—
Matt Ott,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The shooting has also intensified calls by conservatives to fully fund DHS through a single bill — blaming Democrats for the shutdown and arguing that splitting apart ICE and Border Patrol funding will only give the minority party leverage.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
28 Apr. 2026
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Instead, the slight thaw suggests a more modest agenda that the countries should now pursue, one that acknowledges that tensions between them over fundamental issues — trade, technology, global status — are more likely to intensify than abate.—
Andy Browne,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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