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aggravate
[ ag-ruh-veyt ]
verb (used with object)
- to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome:
to aggravate a grievance; to aggravate an illness.
Antonyms: alleviate
- to annoy; irritate; exasperate:
His questions aggravate her.
- to cause to become irritated or inflamed:
The child's constant scratching aggravated the rash.
aggravate
/ ˈæɡrəˌveɪt /
verb
- to make (a disease, situation, problem, etc) worse or more severe
- informal.to annoy; exasperate, esp by deliberate and persistent goading
Usage Note
Derived Forms
- ˌaggraˈvation, noun
- ˈaggraˌvating, adjective
Other Words From
- aggra·vative adjective
- aggra·vator noun
- over·aggra·vate verb (used with object) overaggravated overaggravating
- pre·aggra·vate verb (used with object) preaggravated preaggravating
- re·aggra·vate verb (used with object) reaggravated reaggravating
Word History and Origins
Origin of aggravate1
Word History and Origins
Origin of aggravate1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
In the coming decade, new robotic technologies could further aggravate the problem.
He said austerity is pushing the euro zone into recession, which will further aggravate political tensions.
Medicaid Plus will thus aggravate the horrific budget crisis of the states.
This, in turn, serves to amplify and aggravate differences of interest and power among the competing national groups.
He had the innate slant of mind that properly belongs to a moderator of mass meetings called to aggravate a crisis.
You judged us both as undesirables, therefore any attempt at explanation would, I know, only aggravate our offence in your eyes.
The internal divisions, too, aggravate our weakness; and now, even Most has turned apostate.
Menstruation may aggravate goitre, uterine fibroid tumours, skin diseases, and affections of the blood vessels.
Symptoms should not be mistaken for causes, but pelvic diseases at least aggravate a tendency toward mental unbalance.
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