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Aggravate: meaning, definitions and examples

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aggravate

 

[ ˈæɡ.rə.veɪt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in a negative way

To make a situation or problem worse, especially by making someone feel angry or annoyed.

Synonyms

annoy, exasperate, irritate, provoke

Examples of usage

  • His rude comments only served to aggravate an already tense situation.
  • The noise from the construction site aggravated her headache even more.
Context #2 | Verb

medical

To make a medical condition worse or more severe.

Synonyms

complicate, exacerbate, worsen

Examples of usage

  • Lack of sleep can aggravate existing health issues.
  • Smoking can aggravate respiratory problems.

Translations

Translations of the word "aggravate" in other languages:

🇵🇹 agravar

🇮🇳 बिगाड़ना

🇩🇪 verschlimmern

🇮🇩 memperburuk

🇺🇦 загострювати

🇵🇱 pogarszać

🇯🇵 悪化させる (あっかさせる)

🇫🇷 aggraver

🇪🇸 agravar

🇹🇷 ağırlaştırmak

🇰🇷 악화시키다

🇸🇦 يزداد سوءًا

🇨🇿 zhoršit

🇸🇰 zhoršiť

🇨🇳 加重 (jiāzhòng)

🇸🇮 poslabšati

🇮🇸 versna

🇰🇿 нашарлау

🇬🇪 გართულება

🇦🇿 pisləşdirmək

🇲🇽 agravar

Word origin

The word 'aggravate' originated from the Latin word 'aggravātus', which means 'to make heavier'. In English, the word initially meant 'to make heavy or burdensome'. Over time, its meaning evolved to include the sense of making a situation or problem worse, especially by making someone feel angry or annoyed. The use of 'aggravate' in a medical context to describe the worsening of a condition also developed later.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,726, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.