aggravate
verb
ag·gra·vate
ˈa-grə-ˌvāt
aggravated; aggravating; aggravates
1
: to make (something) worse, more serious, or more severe : to intensify (something) unpleasantly
His back injury was aggravated by too much exercise.
They're afraid that we might aggravate an already bad situation.
2
a
: to make (someone) angry or irritated especially by bothering again and again
The neighbors were aggravated by the noise from the construction.
I'm so silly with my daughter, I think it aggravates her at this point.—Amy Adams
b
: to produce inflammation in (a part of the body) : irritate
… contact wearers may be especially vulnerable to pollen or other irritants that can aggravate the eyes …—Jessica Rendall
Common Uses of Aggravate, Aggravation, and Aggravating: Usage Guide
Although aggravate has been used to refer to rousing someone to anger since the 17th century, it has been the object of disapproval only since about 1870. It is used in expository prose
when his silly conceit … about his not-very-good early work has begun to aggravate us
—William Styron
but seems to be more common in speech and casual writing.
a good profession for him, because bus drivers get aggravated
—Jackie Gleason, interview, 1986
& now this letter comes to aggravate me a thousand times worse
—Mark Twain, letter, 1864
The "make worse" meaning is far more common in published prose than the "rouse to anger" meaning. Such is not the case, however, with aggravation and aggravating. Aggravation is used in the "irritation, provocation" sense somewhat more than in its earlier senses; aggravating has practically no use other than to express annoyance.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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