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
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Recent Examples of aggravating
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Either way, for them, the work itself — slow, imperfect, occasionally aggravating, and deeply human — is the point.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
But the standoff is also aggravating a humanitarian crisis already unfolding on the island.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Adjective
Court records show the aggravating circumstances mean a criminal sentence would have to adhere to the upper bound of sentencing requirements.
—Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Either way, for them, the work itself — slow, imperfect, occasionally aggravating, and deeply human — is the point.
—Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
Another said the product is effective at smoothing lines without aggravating sensitive skin.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 3 Mar. 2026
But the standoff is also aggravating a humanitarian crisis already unfolding on the island.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravating
Adjective
-
Following an investigation, Nichols was also booked on suspicion of annoying or molesting a child under 18.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
-
While Nichols remained in custody for the break-in, he was booked on an additional count of annoying or molesting a child under 18, police said.—
Cierra Morgan
Connect
April 13,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sure, there are worse problems to have in life, but there’s no denying that fruit flies are irritating.—
Christine Fiorentino,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Oklahoma City is irritating, but never stops winning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alice Ribes, emergency country director for the International Rescue Committee in Haiti, said millions continue to face a worsening crisis marked by escalating violence, hunger and starvation, forced displacement of people from their homes and outbreaks of disease.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Flooding is worsening in parts of Michigan on Friday, with rivers still rising in some parts and receding in others.—
Terrance Friday,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Five baserunners and two homers later, the Tigers had a 5-1 lead en route to another frustrating start for Crochet in what’s been a season-long trend for the rotation.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Though Sunday did mark some level of improvement after last Monday’s catastrophe, Crochet acknowledged that this outing was even more frustrating.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Both players scored in double figures on Sunday, but Santos was ruled out against the Kings because of a pelvis injury that has been bothering him for weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Though last week's ceasefire appeared to hold, the showdown over the Strait of Hormuz risked reigniting hostilities and deepening the region-wide war's economic fallout.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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At Sunset+Vine, which was founded 30 years ago, East will focus on scaling the company’s international presence, deepening strategic partnerships with rights holders and integrating live, original and digital-native content.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The story centers on a young couple (Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny) whose lives become entangled with their volatile boss and his wife (Isaac and Carey Mulligan) after witnessing a disturbing incident at an elite country club.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
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Before the footage was shown, as PEOPLE previously reported, Judge George Gallagher warned those in the courtroom that the material would be disturbing.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So, all the things people were yelling about with Southwest weren’t bugging me.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
-
But so much of my journalism has been about something that’s bugging me.—
Jack Denton,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravating. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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