Synonyms of aggravates

aggravates

verb

present tense third-person singular of aggravate

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

• annoys
• bothers
• irritates
• persecutes
• bugs
• exasperates
• gets
• irks
• infuriates
• angers
• vexes
• eats
• riles
• itches
• chafes
• worries
• burns (up)
• piques
• provokes
• grates
• plagues
• spites
• gripes
• wears on
• gets to
• ruffles
• frosts
• teases
• hacks (off)
• galls
• puts out
• nettles
• narks
• enrages
• offends
• peeves
• insults
• rasps
• rubs the wrong way
• upsets
• harasses
• inflames
• gets on one's nerves
• nags
• rouses
• sets one's teeth on edge
• unsettles
• sticks in one's craw
• antagonizes
• gets one's goat
• agitates
• perturbs
• hassles
• distresses
• pesters
• disquiets
• rankles
• outrages
• harries
• maddens
• unhinges
• heckles
• roils
• undoes
• badgers
• discomforts
• devils
• incenses
• affronts
• baits
• exercises
• freaks (out)
• frets
• bullyrags
• discomposes
• miffs
• hagrides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obliges
• pleases
• satisfies
• delights
• appeases
• pacifies
• gratifies
• placates
• mollifies
• gladdens
• propitiates
• assures
• conciliates
• contents
• soothes
• reassures
• quiets
• cheers
• comforts
• consoles
• solaces

2

as in deepens

to make more severe

overheated rhetoric that only aggravated an already tense situation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deepens
• complicates
• exacerbates
• worsens
• intensifies
• amplifies
• magnifies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• relieves
• alleviates
• mitigates
• helps
• eases
• improves
• allays
• ameliorates
• assuages
• betters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of aggravates

What’s clear is that obesity aggravates matters. — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 June 2026

Mercury aggravates Jupiter, intensifying your vulnerability in creative or romantic situations. — Usa Today, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026

Flood conditions in Northern Lower Michigan have become increasingly dire in recent days, as heavy rainfall aggravates the winter snowmelt in the region. — Terrance Friday, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

Smoke from wildfires penetrates deep into the lungs and aggravates respiratory disease more than any other type of pollution. — Becky Upham, EverydayHealth.com, 4 Mar. 2026

In the extreme off-chance that Darnold doesn’t play or aggravates the injury, the Seahawks would call upon Drew Lock, who has just three regular season passing attempts on the year. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 16 Jan. 2026

Nathan tells him to get in the water in order to fix the hooks and ropes, but Max stands on the Jet Ski instead, which aggravates the bosun. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026

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