AGGRAVATE Definition & Meaning

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aggravate

[ag-ruh-veyt]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

aggravated, aggravating

to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome.
to aggravate a grievance; to aggravate an illness.
Synonyms: ,
Antonyms:
to annoy; irritate; exasperate.
His questions aggravate her.
Synonyms: , ,
to cause to become irritated or inflamed.
The child's constant scratching aggravated the rash.

aggravate

/ ˈæɡ��əˌ��ɪ�� /

verb

to make (a disease, situation, problem, etc) worse or more severe
informal��to annoy; exasperate, esp by deliberate and persistent goading

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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.

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

aggravative adjective
aggravator noun
overaggravate verb (used with object)
preaggravate verb (used with object)
reaggravate verb (used with object)
ˌ��ˈ��پ��ǲ� noun
ˈ��ˌ��پ��Բ� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of aggravate¹

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

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of aggravate¹

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

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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.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

To someone like Lucy, John’s resistance to giving up his art is admirable until it becomes aggravating.

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The defendant also denies aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article relating to a kitchen knife.

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Do’s willingness to involve his family in his scheme pointed to his “moral indifference,” prosecutors said, while his campaign of invective against the press aggravated his culpability.

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Mr Monzo has admitted possessing two swords but denies murder, attempted murder, wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and possession of a bladed article.

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For other patients, judgmental remarks from providers aggravate the effects of physical pain by making patients feel ashamed of or even responsible for it.

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Related 51�Թ�s

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

aggrandizement aggravated

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