How to Use Aggravate vs. Irritate
Aggravate (a verb) comes from the Latin aggravatus, which means to “render more troublesome … to make heavy or heavier, add to the weight of” (Etymonline, aggravate).
To irritate, also a Latin verb, irritatus (meaning to excite, provoke, or annoy), quite literally means to annoy or make someone angry or impatient.
Scratching the bite will only aggravate it more.
She finds that loud noises easily irritate her.
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary definition of irritate is “to annoy somebody, especially by something you continuously do or by something that continuously happens.”
So, the consensus seems to be that aggravating someone or something means making an already difficult or frustrating situation worse, whereas to irritate is more simply to provoke or annoy.
Strunk & White on aggravate vs. irritate
From Strunk & White on the word aggravate:
This word [aggravate] is not a synonym for annoy or irritate. To aggravate is to make something worse: He started running too soon and aggravated his sprained ankle.
“Aggravate” / “irritate”, used in sentences
| Word choice | Example sentences |
|---|---|
| aggravate / irritate | |
| aggravate |
He aggravated an old shoulder injury during the win against Chelsea. The government’s actions will only aggravate the problem. Their negative reactions have greatly aggravated the situation. |
| irritate |
That man really irritates me! She was moody at times and easily irritated. The noise was beginning to irritate me intensely. |
Quotes from literature and the media
He did not wish to irritate the enemy with insults.
The bare, painted walls and the simple furnishings aggravated him as he gazed disgustedly around the room.
Capitalism constantly aggravates moral decline by creating appetites and satisfying them at the expense of tradition and restraint.
Don't aggravate an already irritated stomach with overdoses of antacids or harsh physics!
The problems have thus been accelerated and aggravated
Synonyms & nearby words
Synonyms for aggravate
Synonyms for irritate
Word origin (of aggravate/irritate)
1520s, “make heavy, burden down,” from Latin aggravatus, “to render more troublesome,” literally “to make heavy or heavier, add to the weight of,” from ad “to” (see ad-) + gravare “weigh down,” from gravis “heavy”.
1530s, “stimulate to action, rouse, incite,” from Latin irritatus, past participle of irritare “excite, provoke, annoy”.
Worksheet: Word choice
Scratching the rash will only ______ the problem and make it worse.
His loud chewing tends to ______ everyone at the dinner table.
Pollution can ______ asthma symptoms, making them more severe.
The constant noise from construction really started to ______ her nerves.
Dragging heavy furniture across the floor will only ______ the scratches.
FAQs
What is the main difference?
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Can aggravate mean annoy?
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Give an example for aggravate.
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Give an example for irritate.
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Which word means make things worse?
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