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
With North Carolina set to play its season opener against the TCU Horned Frogs on Monday night, Belichick decided to aggravate the media yet again.
—
Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Georgia also has an anti-hazing law that deems hazing a misdemeanor of a high or aggravated nature that is punishable by up to one year in jail.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Yezreel Salter, 26, of Lynwood, was taken into custody June 6 on charges of felony aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, transportation or possession of open alcohol by a driver and possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
In the meantime, analysts do not expect thousands of Russian gas stations to run dry but believe the disruption will aggravate already high inflation and likely mean an extension of the ban on gasoline exports into the autumn, as the Kremlin tries to tamp down prices and ensure supply.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Georgia also has an anti-hazing law that deems hazing a misdemeanor of a high or aggravated nature that is punishable by up to one year in jail.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2025
Yezreel Salter, 26, of Lynwood, was taken into custody June 6 on charges of felony aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, transportation or possession of open alcohol by a driver and possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
In the meantime, analysts do not expect thousands of Russian gas stations to run dry but believe the disruption will aggravate already high inflation and likely mean an extension of the ban on gasoline exports into the autumn, as the Kremlin tries to tamp down prices and ensure supply.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
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Don't push sales and annoy people.—
Nitin Gupta,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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Comments about my fast walk annoy me.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Anger has been brewing in the Himalayan nation for years about the country’s worsening youth unemployment and lack of economic opportunities, exacerbated by what many view as a growing disparity between the country’s elite and regular people.—
Sugam Pokharel,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Pink Light takes the inspiring sports drama genre, where athletes have to overcome obstacles in their sport and personal lives, in a new direction as Browne tackles the worsening debate around trans athletes in the media and political spaces.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Think flying in spring water to a Caribbean island because a female client thought the local water irritated her scalp.—
Louis J. Esterhazy,
Footwear News,
7 Sep. 2025
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However, Agnes is dressed exactly like Wednesday and her Single White Female act is irritating the hell out of her hero.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This technological advance is expected to significantly deepen our understanding of brain function, providing critical insights into how perception, cognition, and behavior are intricately linked to underlying neural processes.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
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Rethinking Education For The AI Age Our educational systems, designed for a pre-digital world, are vulnerable to deepening the hybrid cognitive trap.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The women were too busy cooking, crafting, and caring for the family to bother with the stone tools used by men in hunting and building.—
Sarah Durn,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
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Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?—
Time,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The growing costs to buy and maintain a car –exacerbated by inflation and tariffs –are leading to rising auto loan defaults and repossessions and a potential crisis for American consumers left unprotected by the federal government, according to a new report by a consumer advocacy organization.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Sure, that was exacerbated, and to some degree directly caused, by the ample non-supporting cast around him, especially on the offensive line.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Power gains are bugged to be too low for a new power grind that no one wants to do anyway.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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On average, the matador bugs increased their waving behavior seven times more in the presence of the predatory mantids.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The interview came as federal investigators intensified their search for Kirk's killer.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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Apple didn’t explain its reasoning behind the decision, but the market for satellite-to-phone service is intensifying.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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