# aggravating

/ˈæɡɹəˌveɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈæɡɹɐvˌeɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aggravating
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. annoying

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

describes something that is very annoying or frustrating.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Commonly used to describe situations, habits, or technical failures that cause mild anger.

### 2. making a situation worse

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

making a bad situation, illness, or problem even worse.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often appears in the phrase 'aggravating factor' or 'aggravating circumstances'.

## Examples

- The constant noise from the street is very aggravating.
- It is aggravating to wait for a bus that is already twenty minutes late during a rainstorm.
- While the technical glitches were minor, the aggravating lack of communication from the support team turned a simple fix into a week-long ordeal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.