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
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Recent Examples of aggravating
Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Sitting back for 40 long, exhausting, aggravating minutes.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Matt Peterson, CNBC, 30 May 2026
Makar hasn’t played since aggravating an apparent upper-body injury in Game 5 of Colorado’s second-round series against the Minnesota Wild.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Adjective
The onset of mating season this spring has escalated tensions, with the males’ loud early morning mating calls particularly aggravating residents.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 14 May 2026
Sitting back for 40 long, exhausting, aggravating minutes.
—Michael Russo, New York Times, 14 May 2026
Verb
That is aggravating Americas' frustrations with the president's economic performance, and likely will weigh on his fellow Republicans' performance in November's midterm elections.
—Matt Peterson, CNBC, 30 May 2026
Makar hasn’t played since aggravating an apparent upper-body injury in Game 5 of Colorado’s second-round series against the Minnesota Wild.
—Jesse Granger, New York Times, 24 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravating
Adjective
-
That particularly could be annoying to Uruguay supporters, given Messi’s stature in the sport overall and in particular with defending champion Argentina, La Celeste’s biggest rival.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
-
It’s widely considered rude and annoying when people cluster by the train doors if there are more people on the platform attempting to get on.—
Claudia Fisher,
Travel + Leisure,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
His frustration manifests as bullying or irritating Radha.—
Destiny Jackson,
Deadline,
8 Dec. 2025
-
Well, this latest adaptation could, which spins the aforementioned plot points in staggeringly irritating ways.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Low visibility, extremely low temperatures and worsening road conditions are also factors.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
11 Dec. 2025
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Advocates warn that thousands of Afghans like Mohammad – former partners of US forces who moved to third countries for processing – may now be stranded indefinitely, vulnerable to Taliban retribution and worsening economic hardship.—
Julia Vargas Jones,
CNN Money,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Norwegian Epic is awkward, distinctive and sometimes frustrating.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
The cancellation was frustrating enough, but this comes across as incredibly dismissive of the fans who support your career.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead of lobbing the ball from end to end, teams played straight up the gut (brighter red colour), barely even bothering to use the wings (darker blue colour).—
John Muller,
New York Times,
6 June 2026
-
Brunson turned on the boosters in the second half, attacking the Spurs' defense and showing little sign that his knee was bothering him.—
Alejandro Avila,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Inside Ecole National Republique de Colombie in the Turgeau neighborhood where 1,246 individuals live in squalor, residents uprooted by gangs described lives defined by deepening hunger and increasingly inhumane conditions.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
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Alo, the fashion and wellness brand best known for its athleisure, is deepening its beauty offering with two introductions.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
The decision reignites one of the most disturbing trials in recent years – a tale full of drug abuse, domestic violence, false testimony and a missing 5-year-old girl.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
Some clips, showing officers performing rapid and intense chest compressions on Lucy, were so disturbing that members of her family left the courtroom in tears.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 June 2026
-
Get clear about what’s bugging you.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravating. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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