aggravate
ag|gra|vate /'ægrəveɪt/ (aggravates aggravating aggravated)
1 [VERB] V n
If someone or something aggravates a situation, they make it worse.
Stress and lack of sleep can aggravate the situation...
= exacerbate
≠ alleviate
2 [VERB] V n
If someone or something aggravates you, they make you annoyed. (INFORMAL)
What aggravates you most about this country?
= annoy
● aggravating [ADJ]
You don't realise how aggravating you can be.
= annoying
● aggravation [N-VAR]
I just couldn't take the aggravation.
= annoyance
1 [VERB] V n
If someone or something aggravates a situation, they make it worse.
Stress and lack of sleep can aggravate the situation...
= exacerbate
≠ alleviate
2 [VERB] V n
If someone or something aggravates you, they make you annoyed. (INFORMAL)
What aggravates you most about this country?
= annoy
● aggravating [ADJ]
You don't realise how aggravating you can be.
= annoying
● aggravation [N-VAR]
I just couldn't take the aggravation.
= annoyance