Antonyms for aggravate

Grammar : Verb

Spell : ag-ruh-veyt

Phonetic Transcription : ˈæg rəˌveɪt

Definition of aggravate

Origin : 1520s, "make heavy, burden down," from past participle adjective aggravate "burdened; threatened" (late 15c.), from Latin aggravatus, past participle of aggravare "to render more troublesome," literally "to make heavy" (see aggravation). Earlier in this sense was aggrege (late 14c.). Meaning "to make a bad thing worse" is from 1590s; that of "exasperate, annoy" is from 1610s.
To aggravate has properly only one meaning -- to make (an evil) worse or more serious. [Fowler]
Related: Aggravated; aggravating. Phrase aggravating circumstances is recorded from 1790.

verb annoy
verb cause to become worse

Example sentences :

Is it for you to aggravate as a crime, what reason teaches is, at worst, a misfortune?
Extract from : « Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. I » by Francis Augustus Cox

I felt that to obtrude my consolations on her then would only serve to aggravate her sufferings.
Extract from : « The Tenant of Wildfell Hall » by Anne Bronte

And Kitty refused her breakfast in consequence—only to aggravate me.
Extract from : « The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 25, January 1893 » by Various

I said, Protagoras; then I am a sorry physician, and do but aggravate a disorder which I am seeking to cure.
Extract from : « Protagoras » by Plato

When he grew a little better, the Bohemian rather began to aggravate him.
Extract from : « Cruel Barbara Allen » by David Christie Murray

We only multiply our feebleness, and aggravate our deficiencies.
Extract from : « Tancred » by Benjamin Disraeli

Two circumstances had combined to aggravate the national vice.
Extract from : « A History of American Christianity » by Leonard Woolsey Bacon

He knows I don't want sech things, and he does it jest to aggravate me.
Extract from : « Freaks of Fortune » by Oliver Optic

This will but aggravate her sufferings and expose her to contempt.
Extract from : « The Young Maiden » by A. B. (Artemas Bowers) Muzzey

Indeed, every new remedy seems only to aggravate the disease.
Extract from : « Select Temperance Tracts » by American Tract Society

Synonyms for aggravate

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019