How do you use the word "aggravate" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "aggravate": It will aggravate the wound. The taunts at the end of the match failed to aggravate Tom.

Aggravate Meaning

/ˈæɡ.ɹə.veɪ̯t/

Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbTo make (an offence) worse or more severe; to increase in offensiveness or heinousness.

verbTo make (any bad thing) worse.

Sentence Examples

It will aggravate the wound.

The taunts at the end of the match failed to aggravate Tom.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

worsen exacerbate

Antonyms:

better

CEFR Practice Quiz

Scratching the mosquito bite will only ____ the itching and swelling.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

Scratching the rash will only ____ the itching and make it worse.

Word Origin & History

The adjective is first attested in 1471 in Middle English, the verb in 1530; from Latin aggravātus, perfect passive participle of aggravō (“to add to the weight of, make worse, oppress, annoy”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ad- (“to”) + gravō (“to make heavy”), from gravis (“heavy”) + -ō (verb-forming suffix). See grave and compare aggrieve and aggrege. Participial usage of the adjective up until Early Modern English. By surface analysis, ag- + grave (“heavy”) + -ate (“verb suffix”).

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"Once more, the more to aggrauate the note, With a foule Traitors name ſtuffe I thy throte, And wiſh (ſo pleaſe my Soueraigne) ere I moue, What my tong ſpeaks, my right drawn ſword may proue" — 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 23, column 2:

"The defense made by the prisoner's counsel did rather aggravate than extenuate his crime." — 1709, Joseph Addison, The Tatler:

"to aggravate my woes." — 1726, Homer, “Book XVI”, in [William Broome], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume IV, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC:

"[…] to aggravate the horrors of the scene" — 1837, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic:

"In order to lighten the crown still further, they aggravated responsibility on ministers of state." — 1790, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, Oxford, published 2009, page 28:

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