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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aggravate
Jonathan Goldstonewerse, 34, of Brooklyn Heights was nabbed Wednesday morning for stalking and aggravated harassment.
—
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Timing has also aggravated the problem.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
But other factors have aggravated Arizona’s situation.
—Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 8 Apr. 2026
Triggering Ingredients Certain components of protein powder may aggravate the symptoms of medical disorders.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
Timing has also aggravated the problem.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 Apr. 2026
But other factors have aggravated Arizona’s situation.
—Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 8 Apr. 2026
Triggering Ingredients Certain components of protein powder may aggravate the symptoms of medical disorders.
—Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
-
Most gnats cause little harm but annoy us to no end.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Getting dropped to Division 3 this season does annoy the Scotties.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Deaths have suddenly spiked among the feral horses living on an isolated North Carolina island, and researchers say it’s linked to rising sea level and worsening coastal erosion.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This leads to a vicious cycle, as the disease causes sleep disruption, and sleep disruption then worsens the disease, according to the researchers.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Strong cleaning products may irritate sensitive airways and skin.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
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Oklahoma City is irritating, but never stops winning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Haiti, the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, has been hit the hardest by rising oil prices that experts warn will deepen a spiraling humanitarian crisis.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The appointment comes as Rapha continues to expand its global community of riders and Rapha Cycling Club (RCC) members and deepen its presence in competitive cycling.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Heat’s third matchup of the season against the Raptors didn’t go well either, as Toronto’s length on the defensive end again bothered Miami.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
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Along the way, Melton strained his left thumb — and that clearly bothered him.—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the sea lies in a region of the Golden State where there are already numerous environmental concerns, and some residents worry that plundering for lithium could exacerbate the problem.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
7 Apr. 2026
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The shallowness of Alter’s pockets will become more painfully exposed by the new collective bargaining agreement, which will exacerbate the spending required simply to field a roster.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This sense of solidarity extends into the rose garden, where a dozen or so common pests show up year after year — some in spring, some in summer, and some persist and bug our roses (and us) throughout the year.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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Chandler Zavala has been fighting the injury bug his whole career.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rumours of a temporary switch to Girona intensified in the Spanish media.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Disagreements with the board are a routine part of C-suite life, but the transformative potential of AI—and the speed at which successful companies are moving from experimentation to application—has intensified the pressure significantly.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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