aggravating

[ ag-ruh-vey-ting ]

adjective

1. causing or full of aggravation:

   I've had an aggravating day.

Other Words From

• aggra·vating·ly adverb
• un·aggra·vating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aggravating¹

First recorded in 1630–40; aggravat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Under Florida law, there are 16 “aggravating factors” that increase the severity of a crime and make a defendant eligible for the death penalty.

From Time

These portraits show people whose achievements have both thrilled the world and drawn harsh criticism, like the entertaining, aggravating, visionary zillionaire Elon Musk.

From Time

When we’re in the throes of anxiety, being told to “take a deep breath” can come across as overly simple or downright aggravating.

From Time

The game can be aggressively aggravating, especially given the banality of its dialogue.

From Washington Post

Tenants and landlords alike described the process as glitchy, difficult and aggravating.

From Washington Post

So while the poor sound quality was aggravating, it was also a signal of some weird legitimacy.

From The Daily Beast

There are a lot of aggravating myths and narratives in politics.

From The Daily Beast

We all know that spending time with your extended clan over the holidays can be aggravating.

From The Daily Beast

It found a way to make one of the most aggravating aspects of modern American life, air travel, even more aggravating.

From The Daily Beast

The effects are clearly aggravating the difficulties of the United States.

From The Daily Beast

Governor Berkeley at this time was aggravating the home situation of the Virginia colonists.

From Project Gutenberg

The aggravating smile of condescending wisdom kept playing about his lips.

From Project Gutenberg

A woman will endure martyrdom with the expression of a seraph,—an extremely aggravating seraph.

From Project Gutenberg

A more aggravating annoyance, however, brings loss to the owners of the herds.

From Project Gutenberg

The aggravating thing is, that the expeditions may never reach their proper starting point.

From Project Gutenberg