1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
it really aggravates me when I arrive 10 minutes before the stated closing time, and the store's closed already
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of aggravate
Purdy tried rallying in Week 4, only to aggravate his toe and shelve him the next three games and perhaps this Sunday’s.
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Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2025
Colorado continues to be one of the priciest states for homeowners’ insurance due in large part to devastating hail storms and high wildfire risk and aggravated by inflation and tariffs.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
Smith missed last week’s win over NC State and aggravated his calf strain in the first quarter against Boise State.
—Pete Sampson, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
This past spring, sleep deprivation—partially due to a new baby, partially due to Parker’s manic creative process—aggravated his tinnitus.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
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She’d been awakened by their puppy, and had been annoyed at Ryan, who hadn’t gotten up early with the dog like he was supposed to.—
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Kelce was evaluated for a concussion in the locker room, and he was annoyed at having to answer the questions that are part of the test.—
Verb
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The city said the decision was a result of several years worth of mounting safety concerns, ordinance violations and residential complaints about the vacant structure’s worsening state.—
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The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.—
Verb
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These changes to the fabric’s texture can also irritate delicate skin.—
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To ensure the materials were safe for biological use, the friction layers was tested on a rabbit’s eye, where the device maintained its charge without irritating.—
Verb
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Grappling hooks, 30-foot ladder The Sigourney Street tower’s decline began deepening in 2024 with the proliferation of graffiti and tagging, much of which was later removed from the brick exterior.—
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Tensions between China and Japan are deepening as a diplomatic row over Taiwan morphs into an urgent economic conflict.—
Verb
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Take a seat on an icy throne—the cold never bothered you anyway.—
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Don’t bother wasting your money—using it more than once a day won’t yield ‘better’ or faster results.—
Verb
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While fast charging is already challenging at room temperature, low temperatures exacerbate kinetic limitations, triggering lithium plating on graphite anodes and sharply reducing available capacity.—
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Experts say systemic racism and implicit bias from health care providers are among the factors that exacerbate this disparity, contributing to delays in care or symptoms being dismissed.—
Verb
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That thing’s been bugging on him for a while.—
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Check the head and base and foot of the bed, peeling back the top sheet to look for evidence on mattress covers, box springs, dust ruffles, and the headboard—and most importantly, the mattress seams and piping because bed bugs like to hide in cracks and crevices.—
Verb
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For immigration advocates in the Bay Area, Good’s death has intensified long-standing concerns about intimidation and retaliation against those who monitor federal agents.—
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The chaos intensified after someone threw a snowball.—
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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