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
When asked if there was one particular incident that aggravated the knee, Webb pointed to his recent start against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 30.
—
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
These areas are especially vulnerable to heat, sweat and friction—all of which can aggravate the condition.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
The House Democratic campaign arm’s endorsements in two competitive primaries are aggravating some in the party who see favoritism at work.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
Ingram aggravated a heel injury that bothered him late in the regular season in the second quarter of Wednesday’s Game 5.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 May 2026
These areas are especially vulnerable to heat, sweat and friction—all of which can aggravate the condition.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 May 2026
The House Democratic campaign arm’s endorsements in two competitive primaries are aggravating some in the party who see favoritism at work.
—Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 4 May 2026
Ingram aggravated a heel injury that bothered him late in the regular season in the second quarter of Wednesday’s Game 5.
—Eric Koreen, New York Times, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravate
Verb
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That’s what so annoys Erika at some point.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
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But if creases annoy you, look elsewhere.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Airfares were already rising when Spirit Airlines shut down on May 2, and the loss of the discount carrier is expected to worsen the trend for travelers.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
-
Foreign investors continue to be bearish on India due to weak earnings and the worsening economic impact from the rising global oil prices amid the conflict in the Middle East.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Elsa’s inquisitive presence almost instantly irritates Amalia, as the latter refuses to simply acquiesce to her relentless quizzing.—
Lé Baltar,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
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Apply Essential Oils at Entry Points Essential oils such as lavender, citrus, peppermint, and eucalyptus irritate crickets' sensory organs, McHale says.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
16 May 2026
Verb
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These are the services that reduce harm and support reintegration, unlike arrests that only deepen instability.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
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Relations between China and Russia have deepened in recent years, particularly since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 left Moscow shunned on the global stage and heavily reliant on Beijing for trade due to Western sanctions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 May 2026
Verb
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Now the dog is back to bothering her brother and showing off her sassy personality.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
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This is a nakedly partisan power grab, and state officials haven’t really bothered to deny it.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Verb
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But undersea cables in the Red Sea have already seen a spate of damage in recent years, exacerbated by lengthy repair times and attacks by Houthi rebels allied with Iran.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
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Shortfalls are more severe in areas with major projects such as semiconductor fabrication facilities, exacerbated by the fact that about one-fifth of electricians are over 55, said ABC chief economist Anirban Basu.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
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When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects.—
Sarah Linn
April 24,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the indictment’s most consequential allegations center on what happened after Washington intensified sanctions pressure on Venezuela’s oil industry beginning in 2019.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
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Higher output at sea The findings arrive as governments worldwide intensify efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and expand renewable energy generation in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravate. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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