<p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>(used with object) to make worse or more severe; intensify, as anything evil, disorderly, or troublesome: to aggravate a grievance; to aggravate an illness.<ul><li><strong>Synonyms</strong>: increase, heighten</li><li><strong>Antonyms</strong>: alleviate</li></ul></li><li>to annoy; irritate; exasperate: His questions aggravate her.<ul><li><strong>Synonyms</strong>: rile, vex, anger</li></ul></li><li>to cause to become irritated or inflamed: The child's constant scratching aggravated the rash.</li></ul>