aggravate
to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome: to aggravate a grievance; to aggravate an illness.
to annoy; irritate; exasperate: His questions aggravate her.
to cause to become irritated or inflamed: The child's constant scratching aggravated the rash.
Origin of aggravate
1synonym study For aggravate
usage note For aggravate
Other words for aggravate
Opposites for aggravate
Other words from aggravate
- ag·gra·va·tive, adjective
- ag·gra·va·tor, noun
- o·ver·ag·gra·vate, verb (used with object), o·ver·ag·gra·vat·ed, o·ver·ag·gra·vat·ing.
- pre·ag·gra·vate, verb (used with object), pre·ag·gra·vat·ed, pre·ag·gra·vat·ing.
- re·ag·gra·vate, verb (used with object), re·ag·gra·vat·ed, re·ag·gra·vat·ing.
Words that may be confused with aggravate
Words Nearby aggravate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use aggravate in a sentence
Going off your meds is a surefire way to aggravate your doctor.
The U.K. is delaying the second dose of COVID vaccines to 12 weeks. Is that even safe? | Katherine Dunn | January 12, 2021 | FortuneWestbrook will miss time with a left quadriceps injury he initially suffered during training camp last month and aggravated at Philadelphia last week.
Minus Russell Westbrook and Thomas Bryant, Bradley Beal powers Wizards past Suns | Ava Wallace | January 12, 2021 | Washington PostThe discontent has arguably been aggravated by Robinhood’s approach to customer service.
While the argument for using dark text on light backgrounds is fairly strong, however, the argument that it makes the experience aggravating for some also holds true.
Why dark mode web designs are gaining popularity | Amanda Jerelyn | September 30, 2020 | Search Engine WatchThe problem is, if you have too many redirects on your site, you can start to aggravate your site visitors.
Why site speed is critical for your SEO success and how to make it happen | Anthony Gaenzle | September 4, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
In the coming decade, new robotic technologies could further aggravate the problem.
Robotic Technologies Could Aggravate the U.S. Problem of Slow Jobs Growth | Robert Shapiro | July 19, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTHe said austerity is pushing the euro zone into recession, which will further aggravate political tensions.
Davos World Economic Forum: George Soros Issues Euro Warning | Daniel Gross | January 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTMedicaid Plus will thus aggravate the horrific budget crisis of the states.
This, in turn, serves to amplify and aggravate differences of interest and power among the competing national groups.
He had the innate slant of mind that properly belongs to a moderator of mass meetings called to aggravate a crisis.
The Eve of the Revolution | Carl BeckerYou judged us both as undesirables, therefore any attempt at explanation would, I know, only aggravate our offence in your eyes.
The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le QueuxThe internal divisions, too, aggravate our weakness; and now, even Most has turned apostate.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist | Alexander BerkmanMenstruation may aggravate goitre, uterine fibroid tumours, skin diseases, and affections of the blood vessels.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine | Austin MalleySymptoms should not be mistaken for causes, but pelvic diseases at least aggravate a tendency toward mental unbalance.
Essays In Pastoral Medicine | Austin Malley
British Dictionary definitions for aggravate
/ (ˈæɡrəˌveɪt) /
to make (a disease, situation, problem, etc) worse or more severe
informal to annoy; exasperate, esp by deliberate and persistent goading
Origin of aggravate
1Derived forms of aggravate
- aggravating, adjective
- aggravation, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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