as in annoying
causing annoyance
there's nothing so aggravating as a blaring car alarm that no one is paying any attention to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in irritating
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worsening
to make more severe
overheated rhetoric that only aggravated an already tense situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of aggravating
Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
These 2025 Best of Beauty Award winners offer all the overprotective pros without any aggravating cons.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Adjective
The jury found aggravating factors in the case, which means the judge could sentence her beyond the guidelines set for her, MPR reports.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
These 2025 Best of Beauty Award winners offer all the overprotective pros without any aggravating cons.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
Venus aggravating Uranus tests your ability to roll with the punches.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravating
Adjective
-
An annoying, biker beast blasted out of my bowels onto the page and became the not-so-invisible embodiment of my disease.—
David Soren,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
In any case, this costume would probably go over best with a crowd of theater kids and/or people who are annoying about movies, also known as the exact Venn Diagram that is the staff of Them dot us.—
James Factora,
Them.,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Combining three different actives (AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs) in one product without totally irritating the skin seems like an impossible task, yet Some by Mi has accomplished it with this ease.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Always dilute apple cider vinegar with water and drink through a straw to avoid damaging tooth enamel and irritating the esophagus.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Verywell Health,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Climate was barely mentioned, though scientists have been studying and shouting about its relevance in worsening wildfires for years.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Coleman described a downward spiral of worsening engagement with instruction in general.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
For one Reddit user, navigating recovery on crutches became even more frustrating when her fiancé repeatedly left her car without gas.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
That was the momentum swing that cost the Saints most significantly in a frustrating road loss.—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Talk through what’s bothering you to gain a compassionate perspective.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
While the war was at full tilt, Har-Melech’s minority settler faction had been able to exercise outsize influence over Netanyahu’s decision making, deepening Israel’s entanglement in Gaza.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Panama Canal at Center of US-China Tensions China has been deepening its ties with states in Central and South America and has developed important strategic relationships with Brazil, Venezuela and Peru.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Wicker Man boasts a conclusion that is one of the most haunting and disturbing climaxes to a horror film in any era, but the inclusion of Lee as the wicked Lord Summerisle is a casting coup.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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What started as a search for wrapping paper led to a disturbing discovery that left her questioning her relationship with her mother.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Co-worker bugging you during heads down time?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravating. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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