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
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025
In addition to pleading guilty on all counts, Thompson also admitted to the aggravating circumstances, Bonta’s office said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Tim Britton, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Climate change is aggravating the problem.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Adjective
The 48-year-old man faces an aggravating circumstance of the threat of great bodily harm, and his arraignment has been set for May 8.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2025
In addition to pleading guilty on all counts, Thompson also admitted to the aggravating circumstances, Bonta’s office said.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
Nimmo felt better in time for the postseason, at least until aggravating the plantar fasciitis in his left foot during the National League Division Series.
—Tim Britton, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Climate change is aggravating the problem.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravating
Adjective
-
Josh — Earnings season is super annoying for trend-following investment strategies.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
-
After witnesses identified him as the man who made the gestures, he was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges of contacting a minor with intent to commit a lewd act and annoying or molesting a child.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
12 July 2025
Verb
-
When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2025
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All three ingredients offer significant benefits for skin brightening and skin texture, but also tend to be irritating to people with sensitive skin.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Highly flammable tamarisk shrubs have taken root in thick stands near streams in the western US, and eucalyptus — one of the primary invasive trees blamed for worsening Chile’s recent wildfires as well as fires in Portugal — increases wildfire risk in California.—
Kylie Mohr,
Vox,
8 Jan. 2025
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The United States withdrew its forces from Europe while demanding debt payments from allies, who passed the costs on to Germany, worsening its financial turmoil and hastening its slide into Nazism.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Copycat Conundrum: When Local Laws Protect Your Competitors Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of international franchising involves dealing with local copycat operations that exploit legal protections designed for domestic businesses.—
Mohaimina Haque,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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While these noises may not impact your daily life much, your neighbors deciding to start their yardwork could be frustrating.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
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The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But a decade later, the 38-story structure has become emblematic of Hartford’s deepening office market troubles.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
24 Mar. 2025
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Ukraine and its European backers have watched on with deepening concern over the thawing of relations between Washington and Moscow.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Scientists have found a new way to cheat the system – which is both ingenious and disturbing.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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Multiple bullet-shell casings were left strewn on the ground near the disturbing scene outside the New York City Housing Authority development.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravating. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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