US /ˈæɡrəˌveɪt/ UK /ˈæɡrəveɪt/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to make a problem worse, or to annoy someone

    Scratching the rash will only aggravate it.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to make a problem worse, or... worsenexacerbateintensifycompoundannoyirritateexasperateprovoke
Word family
Derived forms aggravationaggravatingaggravator
Related forms gravegravitygrievance

Etymology

From Latin aggravatus, past participle of aggravare ('to make heavier, burden'), from ad ('to') + gravare ('to weigh down'), from gravis ('heavy').

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