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aggravate

[ag-ruh-veyt] / ˈæg rəˌveɪt /




Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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If inhaled at high levels, these fumes can aggravate a person’s lungs, causing coughing, wheezing and chest tightness.

From Los Angeles Times May 22, 2026

For lawyer and activist Arif Ali Cangi, the legislation approved in July, which allows companies to expropriate or rezone agricultural land for mining, will only aggravate the situation.

From Barron's May 15, 2026

Higher oil prices, which are already hitting gas stations, airfares and shipping costs, could aggravate all three.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 14, 2026

McIlroy is confident he would not aggravate the injury were he to play here this week.

From BBC Mar. 11, 2026

‘Maybe she’s like Ares. That guy can spark a fight just by walking into a crowded room. If Nike radiates competitive vibes or something, she could aggravate the whole Greek-Roman rivalry big-time.’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

NOx is a smog-forming pollutant that aggravates respiratory illnesses, especially asthma, forms acid rain and contributes to nutrient pollution in coastal waters.

From Barron's Jul. 9, 2026

The document asks all the right questions and reaches all the wrong conclusions—the way a doctor might correctly identify symptoms and then prescribe a remedy that aggravates the disease.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 9, 2026

Turning our heads toward the future aggravates the whiplash induced by rapid change.

From Salon May 30, 2026

"The worst time for me is when we're driving in the autumn and the sun is low and the sun is flickering through the trees...it really aggravates," says Dr Munro.

From BBC Nov. 5, 2025

This aggravates his father no end, and several other adults have made nasty remarks about it too.

From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel

At that time, conditions were much the same as they are now: El Nino aggravated a heat wave that had begun in 2014.

From Barron's Jul. 27, 2026

It’s a promising sign for a pitcher who twice had to shut down throwing early in his rehab when he aggravated the injury.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 25, 2026

The injury was aggravated during several attempted comebacks, before Fontaine was forced to call time on his career in 1962.

From BBC Jul. 13, 2026

Ohtani will still serve as the designated hitter through the weekend series, but he continues to experience left-knee irritation aggravated by pitching.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 10, 2026

I was dirty and annoyed by the time I reached prison, and my irritation was aggravated by the fact that I was put in a single cell with this fellow.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Kazakhstan's cloud-seeding trials raised alarm in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan where fears were flagged of "cloud theft" -- alleging that rain clouds could be diverted to Kazakhstan, aggravating its own drought.

From Barron's Aug. 12, 2026

Then days after being activated in early May, he landed on the IL again, after aggravating a bone spur in his left foot.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 1, 2026

Midtown felt like a party, even as the Secret Service closed off chunks of 7th and 8th avenue and warned of aggravating security lines.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 9, 2026

It specified 10 aggravating factors, the presence of which would allow a jury to return a death sentence in the belief that such “guided discretion” would pass constitutional muster.

From Slate Jun. 8, 2026

But their antics seemed to be aggravating Draco Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time he saw them at it.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling




Vocabulary lists containing aggravate


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