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
Fiedler is capable of aggravating us but not of boring us.
—
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Rafaela aggravated his back on a diving catch during the homestand last week and Contreras hyperextended his elbow on a swing over the weekend.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 June 2026
That is aggravating Americas' frustrations with the president's economic performance, and likely will weigh on his fellow Republicans' performance in November's midterm elections.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 30 May 2026
Kaitlynn Dominick has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated child abuse over the death of her child, who died at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital on May 5, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) said in a news release.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Rafaela aggravated his back on a diving catch during the homestand last week and Contreras hyperextended his elbow on a swing over the weekend.
—Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 1 June 2026
That is aggravating Americas' frustrations with the president's economic performance, and likely will weigh on his fellow Republicans' performance in November's midterm elections.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 30 May 2026
Kaitlynn Dominick has been charged with manslaughter and aggravated child abuse over the death of her child, who died at USA Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital on May 5, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) said in a news release.
—Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
-
Rather than be annoyed, however, both Zach and Kayda seem to mostly welcome Bryce’s presence, all three of them bonded.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
-
Americans might be annoyed at how they’re portrayed.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Archer decided to visit a doctor in September 2022 when his symptoms worsened, but doctors initially weren't too concerned.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
-
On Monday night the Pacifica City Council extended an emergency declaration over the pier's condition, which has worsened from cracks in the concrete to a large chasm.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Additionally, environmental factors such as tobacco smoke, pollution, pollen, dust, pet dander, laundry soaps, fragrances and more can irritate children’s skin or breathing passages.—
Dr. Daniel DiGiacomo,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
-
Why is my behavior or anybody else's behavior irritating you?—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Cyber expertise cannot deepen when accountability is unclear, workloads are unmanaged and wellbeing is neglected.—
Harpreet Sidhu,
Fortune,
13 June 2026
-
Just to the west, sunset occurs as the partial eclipse deepens.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
People can decide for themselves whether Wembanyama’s anthem conduct bothers them.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
But at the same time, the people that are bothering me are showing us love.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Over the course of two summers, the Kings weakened the fulcrum of their roster by losing Matt Roy and Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency, then exacerbating matters by casting off Jordan Spence for a modest return.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
9 June 2026
-
What exacerbates that risk is the pace of AI adoption, combined with lagging governance.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Get clear about what’s bugging you.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Jury convicted Anthony earlier Tuesday The jury convicted Anthony of murder in the stabbing death of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet – a case that drew national attention and intensified conversations about self‑defense, race, and safety at school events.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
-
However, the Fund noted that a prolonged or intensified conflict could negatively affect medium-term growth and investment prospects.—
Melissa Hancock,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
