ag´gra|vat´ing|ly

ag´gra|vat´ing|ly
ag|gra|vate «AG ruh vayt», transitive verb, -vat|ed, -vat|ing.
1. a) to make worse or more severe: »

His bad temper was aggravated by a headache.

SYNONYM(S): increase, augment, intensify, exacerbate. b) to make more burdensome or more offensive: »

A lie will only aggravate your guilt.

SYNONYM(S): increase, augment, intensify, exacerbate.
2. Informal. to annoy; irritate; exasperate: »

He aggravated his sister by pulling her hair. The whispering in class aggravates our teacher.

 SYNONYM(S): provoke.
3. Obsolete. to add weight to.
╂[< Latin aggravāre (with English -ate1) to make heavier < ad- on + gravis heavy. See etym. of doublet aggrieve. (Cf. ↑aggrieve)]
–ag´gra|vat´ing|ly, adverb.
–ag´gra|va´tor, noun.
Usage Aggravate as a synonym of annoy, exasperate, irritate, provoke, is sometimes condemned by prescriptive grammarians, but is established in informal use and found in the works of standard writers: »

Threats only served to aggravate people in such cases (Thackeray).


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • gra — gra·tic·u·la·tion; gra·til·li·ty; gra·ti·né; gra·ti·o·la; gra·tu·i·tous; gra·tu·i·ty; gra·va·men; gra·vat; gra·ve·do; gra·ve·men·te; gra·ve·o·lent; gra·vette; gra·vett·ian; gra·vid·i·ty; gra·vied; gra·vif·ic; gra·vig·ra·da; gra·vim·e·ter;… …   English syllables

  • vat — av·a·da·vat; bha·ga·vat; cul·ti·vat·able; en·er·vat·ed; gal·li·vat; gra·vat; pri·vat·do·cent; pri·vat·ize; ren·o·vat·ing·ly; sam·vat; syl·vat·ic; tra·vat·ed; vat; vat·ic; vat·i·can; vat·i·can·ism; vat·i·can·ist; vat·i·cide; vat·man; vi·vat; VAT;… …   English syllables

  • ing — aborn·ing; aw·ing; bear·ing; be·ing; bell·ing; berth·ing; bind·ing; boul·der·ing; brok·ing; brown·ing; cheese·par·ing; cleans·ing; clos·ing; con·cern·ing; con·sid·er·ing; cop·ing; cov·er·ing; crack·ing; crown·ing; duck·ing; dur·ing; en·dur·ing;… …   English syllables

  • ag´gra|va´tor — ag|gra|vate «AG ruh vayt», transitive verb, vat|ed, vat|ing. 1. a) to make worse or more severe: »His bad temper was aggravated by a headache. SYNONYM(S): increase, augment, intensify, exacerbate. b) to make more burdensome or mo …   Useful english dictionary

  • ag|gra|vate — «AG ruh vayt», transitive verb, vat|ed, vat|ing. 1. a) to make worse or more severe: »His bad temper was aggravated by a headache. SYNONYM(S): increase, augment, intensify, exacerbate. b) to make more burdensome or mo …   Useful english dictionary

  • aggravatingly — ag·gra·vat·ing·ly …   English syllables

  • aggravating — ag|gra|vat|ing [ ægrə,veıtıŋ ] adjective 1. ) MAINLY SPOKEN annoying: It s really aggravating she says she ll call, and then she doesn t. 2. ) LEGAL making a crime worse: The judge considered several aggravating factors. ╾ ag|gra|vat|ing|ly… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • ag — ag·ra·pha; ag·ri·business; ag·ri·cere; ag·ri·cul·tur·al; ag·ri·cul·ture; ag·ri·cul·tur·ist; ag·ri·lus; ag·ri·mo·nia; ag·ri·mo·ny; ag·ri·mo·tor; ag·ri·o·choe·rus; ag·ri·o·ecol·o·gy; ag·ri·o·li·max; ag·ri·ol·o·gy; ag·ri·on·i·dae; ag·ri·o·type;… …   English syllables

  • unaggravating — un•ag′gra•vat ing adj …   From formal English to slang

  • -dac·ty·lous; — ab·i·e·tate; ab·i·e·tene; abio·gen·e·sis; abi·og·e·nist; abra·si·om·e·ter; ab·sorp·ti·om·e·ter; aca·cat·e·chin; ac·ac·e·tin; acad·e·mist; acad·e·my; ac·cel·er·om·e·ter; ac·e·tab·u·lar; ac·e·tab·u·lar·ia; ac·e·tab·u·late; ac·e·tab·u·lif·era;… …   English syllables

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