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
• vexes
• angers
• eats
• riles
• itches
• chafes
• worries
• burns (up)
• piques
• provokes
• grates
• spites
• plagues
• gripes
• wears on
• gets to
• ruffles
• frosts
• teases
• hacks (off)
• galls
• puts out
• nettles
• narks
• enrages
• offends
• peeves
• rasps
• insults
• rubs the wrong way
• harasses
• upsets
• inflames
• gets on one's nerves
• nags
• rouses
• sets one's teeth on edge
• sticks in one's craw
• unsettles
• antagonizes
• gets one's goat
• agitates
• perturbs
• hassles
• distresses
• pesters
• disquiets
• rankles
• harries
• outrages
• 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

Consider your current conditioning, access to equipment, and whether the movement aggravates your joints or an injury. — Jakob Roze, HEALTH, 23 Sep. 2026

Social pressures intensify as the Aries moon aggravates Mars. — Usa Today, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026

Regardless, the lure of short-form cricket aggravates the Test situation. — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

But when Dusty takes a tumble and aggravates his old wrist injury, that puts him out of the running. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026

The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions. — Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

The light that aggravates her pigmentation isn't only coming from the sky. — Angela Haupt, Time, 7 July 2026

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