Aggravates Meaning in English

word · lemma: aggravate

US

ˈæɡɹəˌveɪts

AG-ruh-vayts

UK

ˈæɡɹɐvˌeɪts

AG-ruh-vayts

Definition

To make a problem, situation, or feeling worse or more severe.

Usage & Nuances

Mostly formal or semi-formal; common in medical, legal, and technical contexts. Not to be confused with 'annoys'—'aggravates' in modern English almost always means to make something worse, not to irritate someone.

• Spanish: agrava - empeora
• Portuguese (BR): agrava - piora
• Portuguese (PT): agrava - piora
• Chinese (Simplified): 加重 - 使恶化
• Chinese (Traditional): 加重 - 使惡化
• Hindi: बढ़ा देता है - और खराब कर देता है
• Arabic: يُفاقم - يزيد سوءًا
• Bengali: বাড়িয়ে তোলে - আরও খারাপ করে তোলে
• Russian: усугубляет - обостряет
• Japanese: 悪化させる
• Vietnamese: làm trầm trọng thêm - làm nặng thêm
• Korean: 악화시키다
• Turkish: kötüleştirmek - ağırlaştırmak
• Urdu: بڑھا دینا - مزید خراب کرنا
• Indonesian: memperburuk - memperparah

Example Sentences

Loud noise aggravates my headache.

basic

Smoking aggravates lung problems.

basic

Cold weather aggravates her arthritis.

basic

Stress only aggravates the situation, so try to relax.

natural

Her comments just aggravate the argument.

natural

Doing nothing aggravates the problem even more.

natural