aggravate

[ag-ruh-veyt]

verb (used with object)

aggravated, aggravating 

1. to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome.

   to aggravate a grievance; to aggravate an illness.

   Synonyms: increase, heighten
   Antonyms: alleviate

2. to annoy; irritate; exasperate.

   His questions aggravate her.

   Synonyms: rile, vex, anger

3. to cause to become irritated or inflamed.

   The child's constant scratching aggravated the rash.

aggravate

/ ˈæɡrəˌveɪt /

verb

1. to make (a disease, situation, problem, etc) worse or more severe

2. informal,  to annoy; exasperate, esp by deliberate and persistent goading

Usage

The two most common senses of aggravate are “to make worse” and “to annoy or exasperate.” Both senses first appeared in the early 17th century at almost the same time; the corresponding two senses of the noun aggravation also appeared then. Both senses of aggravate and aggravation have been standard since then. The use of aggravate to mean “annoy” is sometimes objected to because it departs from the etymological meaning “to make heavier,” and in formal speech and writing the sense “annoy” is somewhat less frequent than “to make worse.” The noun aggravation meaning “annoyance” occurs in all types of speech and writing.

Other Word Forms

• aggravation noun
• aggravating adjective
• aggravative adjective
• aggravator noun
• overaggravate verb (used with object)
• preaggravate verb (used with object)
• reaggravate verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggravate¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Latin aggravātus (past participle of aggravāre ), equivalent to ag- ag- + grav- ( grave ² ) + -ātus -ate ¹; aggrieve

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggravate¹

C16: from Latin aggravāre to make heavier, from gravis heavy

Synonym Study

Aggravate, intensify both mean to increase in degree. To aggravate is to make more serious or more grave: to aggravate a danger, an offense, a wound. To intensify is perceptibly to increase intensity, force, energy, vividness, etc.: to intensify heat, color, rage.

Example Sentences

A man in Tennessee was charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated domestic assault in 2022 after his ex-girlfriend used the hand signal to tip off gas station staff that she needed help.

From Los Angeles Times

Judge Williams said Hillard had been previously sentenced in 2021 for a racially aggravated offence that took place outside the same hotel.

From BBC

A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault after a video of a confrontation in a Yorkshire park circulated online.

From BBC

Mr Phillips faces a range of charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and illegally possessing a firearm, police said.

From BBC

Has working in the entertainment industry aggravated your anxiety, or does performing comedy provide an outlet?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• complicate 
• deepen 
• exacerbate 
• exaggerate 
• heighten 
• inflame 
• intensify 
• magnify 
• worsen