1
as in annoys
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
2
as in deepens
to make more severe
overheated rhetoric that only aggravated an already tense situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aggravates
Words may hit all the wrong notes when the moon aggravates Chiron today.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Climate change exacerbates chronic and contagious disease, worsens food and water shortages, increases the risk of pandemics, and aggravates mass displacement.
—Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2019
Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2025
The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2025
Climate change exacerbates chronic and contagious disease, worsens food and water shortages, increases the risk of pandemics, and aggravates mass displacement.
—Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravates
Verb
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This annoys his wife, who hankers after Bingley (sight unseen) as a future son-in-law.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Many men disconnect from their family to get a reprieve from these sentiments, which deepens the drift.—
Linsey Hughes,
Flow Space,
10 Sep. 2025
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At the gallery opening a few days later, her suspicion only deepens when Daniel and Cherry, who arrived late in the first place, leave without saying goodbye, which is uncharacteristic of their dutiful son.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Why ban books, Postman asked, if no one bothers to read them?—
Time,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
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What bothers her most is how the refusal seemed to change her brother’s behavior.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But losing Bohm at the same time complicates things, and the team called Otto Kemp up in a corresponding move.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The moon’s clash with Venus complicates a cherished relationship.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During his appearance on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast alongside his The Roses costar Olivia Colman, the 49-year-old actor opened up about what irritates his family members.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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The news irritates Lord Lovat, knowing that if the MacKenzie brothers thought Ellen had run off with Malcom Grant, and Dougal (Sam Retford) was dumb enough to beat Malcom as a result, there has to be a moral lapse in judgment somewhere.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Silence only angers the other, and exacerbates their criticism and contempt.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Registered psychologists Tammy Schamuhn and Tania Johnson, who co-founded The Institute of Child Psychology, argued that homework after school only exacerbates the problem.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This means that damaging workplace behaviors reduce productivity directly as well as create emotional exhaustion that worsens the decline.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The company travels to Rome, where Blackshirts march in the piazzas, but Duse’s health worsens.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Fort Worth bed bugs The B-plot of Episode 7 has Peggy setting up a Little Free Library in her front yard in an effort to build community.—
Jake Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravates. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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