aggravating

[ ag-ruh-vey-ting ]

/ ˈæg rəˌveɪ tɪŋ /

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See synonyms for aggravating on Thesaurus.com

adjective

causing or full of aggravation: I've had an aggravating day.

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Origin of aggravating

First recorded in 1630–40; aggravat(e) + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM aggravating

ag·gra·vat·ing·ly, adverbun·ag·gra·vat·ing, adjective

Words nearby aggravating

aggrandize, aggrandizement, aggravate, aggravated, aggravated trespass, aggravating, aggravation, aggregate, aggregate fruit, aggregation, aggregative

How to use aggravating in a sentence

Under Florida law, there are 16 “aggravating factors” that increase the severity of a crime and make a defendant eligible for the death penalty.
Prosecutors Recount 'Cold, Calculated' Parkland Shooting as Gunman's Sentencing Trial Begins|Katie Reilly|July 18, 2022|Time
These portraits show people whose achievements have both thrilled the world and drawn harsh criticism, like the entertaining, aggravating, visionary zillionaire Elon Musk.
TIME's Best Portraits of 2021|TIME Staff|December 16, 2021|Time
When we’re in the throes of anxiety, being told to “take a deep breath” can come across as overly simple or downright aggravating.
Anxiety Feels Terrible, But it Has an Upside. Here's How to Make it Work in Your Favor|Juli Fraga|October 28, 2021|Time
The game can be aggressively aggravating, especially given the banality of its dialogue.
‘Twelve Minutes’: Grueling repetition with an interesting payoff|Christopher Byrd|August 27, 2021|Washington Post

Tenants and landlords alike described the process as glitchy, difficult and aggravating.
With evictions set to begin next month, hundreds of millions in Washington-area rental aid remains unspent|Anu Narayanswamy, Jonathan O'Connell, Marissa Lang, Kyle Swenson|June 4, 2021|Washington Post
So while the poor sound quality was aggravating, it was also a signal of some weird legitimacy.
Digging the Gold in Dylan’s ‘Basement’|Malcolm Jones|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There are a lot of aggravating myths and narratives in politics.
The Most Annoying Myth in Politics|Jamelle Bouie|February 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We all know that spending time with your extended clan over the holidays can be aggravating.
Can Being With Your Family on Thanksgiving Actually Kill You?|Kent Sepkowitz|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It found a way to make one of the most aggravating aspects of modern American life, air travel, even more aggravating.
Sequestration Empowered President Obama|David Frum|April 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The effects are clearly aggravating the difficulties of the United States.
Join the Manifesto for Global Economic Recovery|The Daily Beast|July 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Governor Berkeley at this time was aggravating the home situation of the Virginia colonists.
Hallowed Heritage: The Life of Virginia|Dorothy M. Torpey
The aggravating smile of condescending wisdom kept playing about his lips.
Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist|Alexander Berkman
A woman will endure martyrdom with the expression of a seraph,—an extremely aggravating seraph.
The Daughters of Danaus|Mona Caird
A more aggravating annoyance, however, brings loss to the owners of the herds.
Two Boys in Wyoming|Edward S. Ellis
The aggravating thing is, that the expeditions may never reach their proper starting point.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 2, July, 1893|Various