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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aggravating
Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The documents state that children under 14 were visible near Kirk when he was shot — an aggravating factor under Utah law.
—Joshua Rhett Miller
jesus Mesa
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Just make sure that your hands are clean before applying it to avoid spreading bacteria and aggravating breakouts further.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Adjective
Utah prosecutors may point to the setting for Kirk’s killing in order to argue the shooting involved that aggravating factor, according to Rahmani.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
The documents state that children under 14 were visible near Kirk when he was shot — an aggravating factor under Utah law.
—Joshua Rhett Miller
jesus Mesa
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
What is required is a pullback - on huge deficits, on aggravating international and internal relationships, and on the undermining of historical foundations of the United States.
—John S. Tobey, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Just make sure that your hands are clean before applying it to avoid spreading bacteria and aggravating breakouts further.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, Refinery29, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravating
Adjective
-
Frankie Montas Montas is slated to miss all of next season, and so his $17 million player option is easier than any decision in those annoying Capital One ads.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
There was one distraction during the number when the director made their performance look like a TikTok video, complete with a stream of annoying comments to the left of Leavitt’s tush.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Her aging stepfather knocks heads with her flawed and irritating ex-husband, who also moves into the home.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The lack of monthly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics hasn’t kept Wall Street completely in the dark on what’s happening in the job market as private sources indicate a worsening picture, according Moody’s Analytics chief economist Mark Zandi.—
Danny Bakst,
Fortune,
5 Oct. 2025
-
And the arrival of some suspicious new neighbors presents an opportunity that solves one problem while worsening the other.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Odegaard’s recent medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee will be doubly frustrating as a result, with that pair now missing opportunities to build more chemistry.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Label your bulbs now to avoid frustrating mix-ups later.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The dog recognizes that something is amiss, but isn’t capable of understanding what’s really bothering Todd.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The injury that will sideline Herro to begin this season is one that had been bothering him for a few months.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While federal officials maintain that only criminals are being targeted, local advocates and community leaders say lawful residents and families with pending cases have also been detained, deepening fears that the crackdown is casting too wide a net and eroding public trust.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Qatar is deepening its presence in Egypt after more than a decade of strained ties.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The private messages offer a disturbing glimpse into how Jones — who is looking to oust incumbent Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares this fall — describes his political adversaries in private conversations.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Oct. 2025
-
There were masks and body suits made of female skin, along with human skulls for soup bowls and other disturbing oddities.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The shutdown could also delay the release of key economic data, further complicating policymakers’ decision making.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Private payrolls plunged in September, complicating the picture for the US economy as policymakers and investors struggle to assess the state of the labor market amid a government shutdown.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravating. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share