aggravate Hear it!

aggravate Definition

ag·gra·vate (ag′rə vāt′)

transitive verb -·vat′ed, -·vat′·ing

  1. to make worse; make more burdensome, troublesome, etc.
  2. Informal to exasperate; annoy; vex

Etymology: < L aggravatus, pp. of aggravare, to make heavier < ad-, to + gravis, heavy: see grave

aggravate Synonyms

aggravate

v.

  1. To irritate

    exasperate, annoy, provoke; see bother 2.

  2. To make worse

    worsen, exacerbate, complicate; see increase 1, intensify. See syn. study atintensify.

aggravate Usage Examples

Object

  • trespass: Of the 39 arrests, 16 were for aggravated trespass.
  • burglary: In the offense of aggravated burglary, the words will normally mean " carrying " .
  • assault: In 1998 a new offense of racially aggravated assault was introduced.
  • offense: I raised the need for a clause on aggravated offenses on Second Reading.
  • harassment: An offense akin to racially aggravated harassment could be created.
  • asthma: They are also thought to aggravate existing asthma in some people.

Subject

  • lack: The failure was aggravated by lack of response to the Inland Revenue for a client whose tax affairs were under inquiry.
  • pollution: Facts: 1 in 7 children now suffer from asthma, which is aggravated by traffic pollution.
  • fact: The matter was further aggravated by the fact that the newspaper failed to contact Lampard's representatives for a reply.
  • stress: Many diseases may be caused by stress, and even more may be aggravated by stress.

Preposition: by

  • lack: The failure was aggravated by lack of response to the Inland Revenue for a client whose tax affairs were under inquiry.
  • pollution: Facts: 1 in 7 children now suffer from asthma, which is aggravated by traffic pollution.
  • fact: The matter was further aggravated by the fact that the newspaper failed to contact Lampard's representatives for a reply.
  • stress: Many diseases may be caused by stress, and even more may be aggravated by stress.

Modifying Another Word

  • racially: Clause 40 is modeled on the existing law on racially aggravated offenses.
  • religiously: He was jailed for four months for " religiously aggravated common assault " .
  • greatly: This was very important to us because of Sue's bad back which is greatly aggravated by bumpy roads.
  • possibly: Here it could be a genetic predisposition, possibly aggravated by hormonal changes at puberty.
  • seriously: A deliberate breach of the health and safety legislation with a view to profit seriously aggravates the offense.

Present participle complement

exist: What is more, the existence of a single currency over most of the EU has aggravated already existing uneven economic development.