AGGRAVATING
aggravating, exacerbating, exasperating
(adjective) making worse
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Verb
aggravating
present participle of aggravate
Source: Wiktionary
Ag"gra*va`ting, a.
1. Making worse or more heinous; as, aggravating circumstances.
2. Exasperating; provoking; irritating. [Colloq.]
A thing at once ridiculous and aggravating. J. Ingelow.
AGGRAVATE
Ag"gra*vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aggravated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aggravating.] Etym: [L. aggravatus, p. p. of aggravare. See
Aggrieve.]
1. To make heavy or heavier; to add to; to increase. [Obs.] "To
aggravate thy store." Shak.
2. To make worse, or more severe; to render less tolerable or less
excusable; to make more offensive; to enhance; to intensify. "To
aggravate my woes." Pope.
To aggravate the horrors of the scene. Prescott.
The defense made by the prisioner's counsel did rather aggravate than
extenuate his crime. Addison.
3. To give coloring to in description; to exaggerate; as, to
aggravate circumstances. Paley.
4. To exasperate; to provoke; to irritate. [Colloq.]
If both were to aggravate her parents, as my brother and sister do
mine. Richardson (Clarissa).
Syn.
– To heighten; intensify; increase; magnify; exaggerate; provoke;
irritate; exasperate.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition