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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