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Aggravating Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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aggravating

[ˈæɡrəˌveɪtɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

in a frustrating manner

Causing annoyance, displeasure, or exasperation.

Synonyms

annoying, exasperating, irritating.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
aggravating

Use when something is persistently bothersome or worsening a situation. Often implies a continuous or repeated action that leads to increased frustration.

  • His constant interruptions were aggravating the meeting
  • The aggravating noise from the construction site made it hard to concentrate
irritating

Use for describing something that causes slight anger or discomfort. This word is similar to 'annoying' but may imply a physical sensation or a slightly more intense reaction.

  • The itching from the mosquito bites is incredibly irritating
  • His whistling is really irritating and distracting
annoying

Use for describing something mildly bothersome or irritating, often on a personal level. It is less intense than 'aggravating' and 'exasperating'.

  • The sound of the dripping tap is so annoying
  • It’s annoying when people talk loudly on their phones in public
exasperating

Use when an action or situation is extremely frustrating, often to a breaking point. This word conveys a higher level of frustration and is often used in more serious contexts.

  • Trying to solve this malfunctioning printer is exasperating
  • It was exasperating to deal with the endless bureaucracy

Examples of usage

  • That aggravating noise just won't stop.
  • His aggravating behavior is really getting on my nerves.
Context #2 | Verb

in a negative sense

Making a problem or situation worse.

Synonyms

exacerbate, intensify, worsen.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
aggravating

This word is often used when something is making a situation worse or causing increased irritation.

  • His attitude was aggravating the situation further.
  • The constant noise from construction was extremely aggravating.
worsen

This word is generally used to describe making something more severe or unpleasant.

  • Skipping medication can worsen your health condition.
  • Ignoring the problem will only worsen it over time.
exacerbate

This word is typically used in formal contexts to describe making a bad situation, feeling, or problem worse.

  • His rude comments only served to exacerbate the tension in the room.
  • The heavy rainfall will exacerbate the flooding in the area.
intensify

This word is used when wanting to describe an increase in strength, degree, or force of something.

  • The efforts were intensified as the deadline approached.
  • Her emotions began to intensify as the reality of the situation set in.

Examples of usage

  • Adding more salt will only aggravate the taste.
  • His comments only served to aggravate the already tense situation.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'aggravating'

The word 'aggravating' originated from the Latin word 'aggravare', which means 'to make heavier'. Over time, its meaning evolved to include causing annoyance or making a situation worse. The term has been used in English since the 16th century.

See also: aggravated, aggravatingly, aggravation, aggravator.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,617, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.