Word
aggravating
Phoneticsag·gra·vat·ing
US/ˈæɡɹəˌveɪtɪŋ/
UK/ˈæɡɹɐvˌeɪtɪŋ/
Definitions
01annoying
adj. describes something that is very annoying or frustrating.
adj. causing irritation or annoyance. Often used in informal speech to describe people or repetitive tasks.
“It is really aggravating when the internet stops working in the middle of a meeting.”
“The most aggravating aspect of the commute was not the distance, but the unpredictable delays caused by the ongoing roadworks.”
Informal
Usage
Commonly used to describe situations, habits, or technical failures that cause mild anger.
Synonyms
02making a situation worse
adj. making a bad situation, illness, or problem even worse.
adj. exacerbating or intensifying a negative state or condition. In legal contexts, it refers to circumstances that increase the severity of a crime.
“The cold weather was an aggravating factor for his cough.”
“The judge noted several aggravating circumstances, including the defendant's prior record, which led to a harsher sentence.”
Formal · Technical
Usage
Often appears in the phrase 'aggravating factor' or 'aggravating circumstances'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Therefore, an officer-specific aggravating factor would require judges—in all criminal cases involving a police officer offender—to consider imposing a serious sentence.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/aggravating