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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Recent Examples of aggravate
That summation of the 82nd Golden Globe Awards will undoubtedly aggravate some people in the movie capital.
—
Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
The bad image is aggravated by the continuous lies and the deception of members with false promises that are never fulfilled and that end up harming the Club.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Because the vehicle's owner saw the snake slip under the hood, the man didn't want to start the car and risk hurting or aggravating the snake.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025
However, this is a significant amount of lemon juice to consume at a time and could aggravate conditions like acid reflux.16
Talk to a healthcare provider to see if regularly drinking lemon juice is right for you.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for aggravate 
Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
The bad image is aggravated by the continuous lies and the deception of members with false promises that are never fulfilled and that end up harming the Club.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Because the vehicle's owner saw the snake slip under the hood, the man didn't want to start the car and risk hurting or aggravating the snake.
—Kelli Bender, People.com, 2 Jan. 2025
However, this is a significant amount of lemon juice to consume at a time and could aggravate conditions like acid reflux.16
Talk to a healthcare provider to see if regularly drinking lemon juice is right for you.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 1 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
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The game was tied at 25 with 7:22 left in the first half, but Florida Southwestern was clearly annoyed by the constant pressure.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
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Mostly we are annoyed by inane thickets of regulation and are suckers for a politician who vows to sweep them aside.—
Peter C. Baker,
New York Times,
1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Such an act of nature would only worsen the already-disastrous circumstances LA citizens are dealing with right now.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
16 Jan. 2025
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The possible financial obligations due to the Child Victims Act could worsen a mounting fiscal crisis in Maryland.—
Gary Collins,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Prolonged exposure to vog can irritate the eyes, throat and lungs, particularly for those with preexisting respiratory conditions.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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Rising temperatures also accelerate the production of ground-level ozone, a harmful gas that irritates airways and can trigger asthma attacks.—
Bill Frist,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Second, invest in initiatives that deepen your audience’s connection to your brand.—
Will Fan,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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The fires — expected to be among the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history — have deepened a crisis in the state’s home insurance market that was already reeling before the devastation came.—
Laurence Darmiento,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Vlasic is not bothered by this but does have a suggestion for the NHL.—
Curtis Pashelka,
The Mercury News,
15 Jan. 2025
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The latter group ultimately just couldn’t be bothered to get off their couches.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Gusty Santa Ana winds are forecast to come and go over southern California in the next several days, at times further exacerbating the deadly and devastating wildfires across the region.—
Doyle Rice,
USA TODAY,
11 Jan. 2025
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New Yorkers living in underserved areas, particularly communities of color, have long faced barriers to accessing high-quality health care and these barriers were significantly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Ann Marie P. Mauro,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Pretty much since the first day Fortnite Chapter 6 season 1 launched, players have been complaining that XP across the game’s various modes either felt nerfed or bugged.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
4 Dec. 2024
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My eyes must have bugged all the way out of my head.—
Ben East,
Outdoor Life,
28 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Banks are on a winning streak, one that’s poised to intensify as President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office.—
Jeanna Smialek,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2025
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The Big Ten-SEC rivalry is about to intensify as the external factors dictating both conferences’ strategies change, and the Big Ten perhaps is in a better position to succeed than at any time in the last 50 years.—
Scott Dochterman,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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