aggravate Definition
to make a problem or situation worse, especially by making someone angry or annoyed.
Using aggravate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "aggravate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
His constant complaining only aggravates the situation.
Example
The noise from the construction site is aggravating my headache.
Example
Don't aggravate your sister by teasing her.
aggravate Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with aggravate
aggravating circumstances
factors that make a crime more serious and deserving of a harsher punishment
Example
The judge took into account the aggravating circumstances of the case before sentencing the defendant.
a circumstance that makes a situation more difficult or unpleasant
Example
The lack of funding was an aggravating factor in the failure of the project.
extremely slow and frustrating
Example
The internet connection was aggravatingly slow, making it impossible to get any work done.
Origins of aggravate
from Latin 'aggravare', meaning 'to make heavier'
Summary: aggravate in Brief
'Aggravate' [ˈæɡrəveɪt] means to make a problem or situation worse, often by making someone angry or annoyed. It is synonymous with 'worsen,' 'exacerbate,' and 'irritate.' 'Aggravate' can also refer to 'aggravating circumstances,' which are factors that make a crime more serious, or 'aggravatingly slow,' which describes something that is extremely slow and frustrating.
