as in annoying
causing annoyance
there's nothing so aggravating as a blaring car alarm that no one is paying any attention to
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in irritating
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worsening
to make more severe
overheated rhetoric that only aggravated an already tense situation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of aggravating
Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
In the United States, the death penalty is used almost exclusively for those who commit murders with aggravating circumstances that make their crimes particularly heinous.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker’s office filed a notice with the court saying the state will prove there are aggravating circumstances sufficient to warrant the death penalty.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Adjective
No hesitation playing in semifinal even with risk of aggravating injury.
—Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
In the United States, the death penalty is used almost exclusively for those who commit murders with aggravating circumstances that make their crimes particularly heinous.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 2 Jan. 2025
Verb
But one of the main drivers of lung-aggravating smog may be right underneath our feet, according to new research.
—Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker’s office filed a notice with the court saying the state will prove there are aggravating circumstances sufficient to warrant the death penalty.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for aggravating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravating
Adjective
-
For one, Barber and Sweetin co-signed one fan’s take describing the youngest Tanner sibling, Michelle (played by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) as increasingly annoying and borderline spoiled as the series went on.—
John Russell,
People.com,
21 Feb. 2025
-
This is occasionally annoying (or more than occasionally).—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Cover irritating clothing seams with a smooth material such as silk to avoid abrasive irritation.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
5 Jan. 2025
-
At Abercrombie & Fitch Packed with conditioning and hydrating castor oil, argan oil & coconut oil, this eyelash & brow growth serum will help promote the appearance of longer, fuller looking lashes and brows without the use of irritating or harmful ingredients.—
refinery29.com,
refinery29.com,
4 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Highly flammable tamarisk shrubs have taken root in thick stands near streams in the western US, and eucalyptus — one of the primary invasive trees blamed for worsening Chile’s recent wildfires as well as fires in Portugal — increases wildfire risk in California.—
Kylie Mohr,
Vox,
8 Jan. 2025
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The United States withdrew its forces from Europe while demanding debt payments from allies, who passed the costs on to Germany, worsening its financial turmoil and hastening its slide into Nazism.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Most welcomed this move, even if the timing was frustrating.—
Louis Staples,
Rolling Stone,
26 Feb. 2025
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What’s especially frustrating to people involved in ferret conservation is that funding and staff resources were already limited heading into 2025.—
Benji Jones,
Vox,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
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The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Many of their veterans are in deepening slumps at the wrong time.—
Anthony Slater,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Despairing of his father’s physical decline and deepening depression, Filip and his friend and co-director Fredrik Wikingsson (the pair are popular TV personalities in Sweden) conspire to get the old man out of the house and on the road – to France.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Warning: The following story elements, including photos and video, may be disturbing to some readers.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
-
The feature take is set amidst the 4th of July celebration, as a disturbing figure named Tommy Taffy emerges.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aggravating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravating. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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