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
Money could be at the heart of the power struggle when Mars aggravates Pluto.
—
Usa Today, USA Today, 24 Sep. 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, 24 Sep. 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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Naturally, this annoys Alex to no end.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
17 Sep. 2025
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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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Mercury entering Scorpio on the 6th deepens communication and emotional clarity and can help you to find resolution to lingering tensions in partnerships or domestic life.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
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Looking ahead, Burks hopes the bond only deepens.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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 Thursday’s positive economic data complicates the Fed’s situation.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
25 Sep. 2025
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Each character, from family members to firm associates, complicates Jax’s pursuit of justice while reflecting the contradictions of reality.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
25 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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The Rockets' roster lacks guards and ball-handlers, especially when compared to other title contenders, and VanVleet's injury exacerbates the problem.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
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The thinking among some academics and business leaders goes that requiring companies to disclose their finances every quarter, as the US has done since 1970, exacerbates Corporate America’s obsession with pleasing the stock market in the short term rather than focusing on long-term value creation.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Usually starting in a person's early to mid-40s, presbyopia typically worsens until age 65, according to the American Optometric Association.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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During Bilbao’s Semana Grande, Jone lives her first love with Olga, as her father’s Parkinson’s illness worsens.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At the end of the 19th century, Phylloxera bugs infected vineyards across Europe but a solution was found, and viticulture adapted and continued.—
Miguel A. Torres,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
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The singer admitted that he bugs Brown and his son for constant updates on the baby girl.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravates. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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