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   Ag·gra·vate

   /ˈaɡrəˌvāt/

   

   verb

   • 1. make (a problem, injury, or offense) worse or more serious: "military action would only aggravate the situation" Similar worsenmake worseexacerbateinflamecompoundintensifyincreaseheightenmagnifyadd toamplifyaugmentadd fuel to the fire/flamesadd insult to injuryrub salt in the woundOpposite alleviateimprove
   • 2. annoy or exasperate (someone), especially persistently: informal "the gesture aggravated me even more" Similar annoyirritateexasperateangerirkvexput outnettleprovokeincenserileinfuriateantagonizeget on someone's nervesrub up the wrong waymake someone's blood boilruffle someone's feathersruffletry someone's patiencemake someone's hackles riseoffendpiquerankleinformal:peeveneedlemake someone see redget someone's back upget someone's goatget under someone's skinbugget someonemiffhack offwind upget atnarkget acrossget on someone's wickget up someone's nosetick offbum outvulgar slang:piss offOpposite calmconciliate

   Word Origin mid 16th century: from Latin aggravat- ‘made heavy’, from the verb aggravare, from ad- (expressing increase) + gravis ‘heavy’.

   Scrabble Points: 14

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   • G

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   • G

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   • V

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   • A

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