AGGRAVATING • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Aggravating

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/ˈægrəvˌeɪtɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Aggravate v. t. (past & past part. aggravated; pres. part. aggravating)

1.

To make heavy or heavier; to add to; to increase. (Obs.) "To aggravate thy store."

2.

To make worse, or more severe; to render less tolerable or less excusable; to make more offensive; to enhance; to intensify. "To aggravate my woes." "To aggravate the horrors of the scene." "The defense made by the prisoner's counsel did rather aggravate than extenuate his crime."

3.

To give coloring to in description; to exaggerate; as, to aggravate circumstances.

4.

To exasperate; to provoke; to irritate. (Colloq.) "If both were to aggravate her parents, as my brother and sister do mine."

Synonyms: To heighten; intensify; increase; magnify; exaggerate; provoke; irritate; exasperate.

adjective

Aggravating adj.

1.

Making worse or more heinous; as, aggravating circumstances.

2.

Exasperating; provoking; irritating. (Colloq.) "A thing at once ridiculous and aggravating."

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Etymology of 'Aggravating'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Aggravating" Quotes from Famous Books

... exercise there is nothing false or morbid; it is as reliable as hereditary strength, except that it is more easily relaxed by indolent habits. No doubt it is aggravating to see some robust, lazy giant come into the gymnasium for the first time, and by hereditary muscle shoulder a dumb-bell which all your training has not taught you to handle. No matter; it is by comparing yourself with yourself that the estimate is to be made. As the writing-master ...

— Atlantic Monthly, Volume 7, Issue 41, March, 1861 • Various

... would have been correct. Captain Dan was desperate. He had made up his mind to fight, to "put his foot down" at last. Serena's ill health, Gertrude's conduct, the aggravating insolence of Cousin Percy, all these had helped to spur him to this pitch. And now came Azuba's open rebellion and her declaration that his command amounted to nothing, that he was not the "boss." It was true, that was the humiliating fact which stung. He was not the ...

— Cap'n Dan's Daughter • Joseph C. Lincoln

... that the convicts should be carried beyond sea as slaves, that they should not be emancipated for ten years, and that the place of their banishment should be some West Indian island. This last article was studiously framed for the purpose of aggravating the misery of the exiles. In New England or New Jersey they would have found a population kindly disposed to them and a climate not unfavourable to their health and vigour. It was therefore determined that they should be sent to colonies ...

— The History of England from the Accession of James II. - Volume 1 (of 5) • Thomas Babington Macaulay

... than I had today. She doesn't know. You can see she hopes her son will get her. That's as plain as the nose on your face. But she doesn't know anything. Is that a good sign or a bad one? I wish I knew. Alix isn't the sort to forget. Maybe Strong has gotten over it and not she. It's darned aggravating, that's what it is. There must be some good reason why she's never married. I wonder if she's still keen about him. This talk of Charlie Webster's may be plain bunk. If she hates him,—why? That's the question. WHY does she hate him? There must be some reason beside that ...

— Quill's Window • George Barr McCutcheon

... went up stairs to bed, Frank continued his aggravating allusions to Louis' weakness, but in so covert a manner, that no one but those acquainted with Louis' former history could have understood their import. For some time Reginald pretended not to hear them; there was a strong struggle within ...

— Louis' School Days - A Story for Boys • E. J. May

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