aggravate
verb
Amy AdamsJessica Rendall
Common Uses of Aggravate, Aggravation, and Aggravating: Usage Guide
Although aggravate has been used to refer to rousing someone to anger since the 17th century, it has been the object of disapproval only since about 1870. It is used in expository prose
William Styron
but seems to be more common in speech and casual writing.
Jackie Gleason, interview, 1986
Mark Twain, letter, 1864
The "make worse" meaning is far more common in published prose than the "rouse to anger" meaning. Such is not the case, however, with aggravation and aggravating. Aggravation is used in the "irritation, provocation" sense somewhat more than in its earlier senses; aggravating has practically no use other than to express annoyance.
Examples of aggravate in a Sentence
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Vargas, 38, of Osteen, pleaded guilty on Aug. 21 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit money laundering, prosecutors said.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
Through immigration policy, the Trump administration could either aggravate the shortage or ease it, which would either raise or lower housing costs.
—Salim Furth, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
These have got worse across the previous two years and have recently been aggravated by a slew of injuries.
—Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravate
Articles Related to aggravate
Cite this Entry
“Aggravate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aggravate. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aggravate
verb
from Latin aggravare "to make heavier," from ad- "to" and gravare "to burden," from gravis "heavy" — related to grave entry 3, gravity, grieve
Medical Definition
aggravate
transitive verb
Legal Definition
aggravate
transitive verb
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