aggravate

/ˈæɡrəveɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæɡrəveɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈa-grə-ˌvāt/ (ame, mw)

aggravate — verb

  • aggravatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • aggravateshe / she / it
  • aggravatedpast simple
  • aggravating-ing form

1. to make a problem, difficulty, or unpleasant situation even worse than it alread

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make a problem, difficulty, or unpleasant situation even worse than it already was

例句

The manager's careless remarks aggravated the conflict between the two teams.

aggravate + conflict (negative situation)

Leaving the problem untreated will only aggravate the financial crisis.

同義詞
  • worsen

    more general and slightly less formal; can be intransitive ('the situation worsened')

  • exacerbate

    more formal and stronger in tone; typically used in written or academic English

  • compound

    adds the idea that one problem is added onto another, making the whole worse

反義詞
  • improve

    make a situation better; opposite direction of change

  • alleviate

    make a problem less severe, the direct opposite of aggravate

文法句型

aggravate + noun phrase (problem, situation, conflict)

be aggravated by + noun phrase

用法筆記

Object is usually a negative situation — problems, conflicts, crises, tensions. Frequently used in the passive when focusing on the cause rather than the agent: 'The flooding was aggravated by the broken dam.'

常見錯誤

❌The medicine aggravated his pain' (for sense 1 of 'worsen an illness' — better in sense 2 if medical).
✅The medicine aggravated his stomach ulcer.
💡Use sense 2 when referring to a medical condition.
❌The rain aggravated the flowers' (flowers are not a negative situation).
✅The rain aggravated the flooding in the basement.
💡The object must be an existing problem.

2. to make an injury, illness, or medical condition more serious than it was before

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make an injury, illness, or medical condition more serious than it was before

例句

The doctor warned Lin that running would aggravate her knee injury.

aggravate + [injury/condition]

Cold winter air can aggravate the symptoms of asthma and bronchitis.

aggravate + symptoms

同義詞
  • worsen

    more general and can be used both for health and non-health contexts

  • exacerbate

    more formal; very common in medical writing

反義詞
  • heal

    the process of becoming better, opposite of health worsening

  • relieve

    make symptoms less severe, opposite effect

文法句型

aggravate + noun phrase (injury, condition, symptoms)

be aggravated by + noun phrase

用法筆記

Object is almost always an injury, illness, symptom, or medical condition. Unlike sense 1, this sense specifically describes health-related worsening. Common in both doctor-patient conversations and medical writing.

常見錯誤

❌Eating spicy food aggravated my happiness' (happiness is not a negative condition).
✅Eating spicy food aggravated my acid reflux.
💡The object must be an existing illness or injury.
❌The noise aggravated his broken leg' (noise worsens annoyance, not a broken leg).
✅Walking on it aggravated his broken leg.
💡The trigger must be relevant to the injury type.

3. to make someone feel annoyed or angry, especially by repeatedly doing something

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to make someone feel annoyed or angry, especially by repeatedly doing something that bothers them

例句

The constant noise from the construction site aggravated the neighbours.

aggravate + person (direct object)

Nothing aggravates Mei-Lin more than being interrupted while she is reading.

nothing aggravates + person + more than + gerund

同義詞
  • annoy

    more neutral and common; covers a wider range of irritation levels

  • irritate

    very similar in meaning; 'irritate' can also describe physical skin reactions

  • bother

    milder; can mean simply 'disturb' or 'inconvenience' without anger

反義詞
  • please

    the opposite feeling — to make someone happy or satisfied

  • calm

    to make someone feel less annoyed or angry

文法句型

aggravate + person

it aggravates + person + when / that clause

用法筆記

This sense is more common in informal American English than British English. Unlike the stronger 'infuriate' or 'enrage', 'aggravate' describes a moderate level of annoyance, usually caused by repeated behaviour rather than a single incident.

常見錯誤

❌He aggravated me by borrowing my car once' (single incident).
✅He aggravated me by borrowing my car every week without asking.
💡Aggravate in this sense works best for repeated actions.
❌Using 'aggravate' for physical irritation ('The rough fabric aggravated my skin' — this is sense 2, medical).
✅The rough fabric irritated my skin.
💡For physical skin irritation, use 'irritate' not 'aggravate'.