- present participle of aggravate.
aggravating
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of aggravating
First recorded in 1630–40; aggravat(e) + -ing 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Not only that, but air-conditioning is often criticised by environmentalists for aggravating climate change.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
But around kids her own age, Bonnie is so timid she becomes aggravating to watch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
Midtown felt like a party, even as the Secret Service closed off chunks of 7th and 8th avenue and warned of aggravating security lines.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 9, 2026
He said the international community needed to do more to prevent foreign trawlers operating illegally in the region, aggravating locals.
From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026
"See, like this. I'm smiling at you even though you're aggravating me."
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
