C1 verb #2,000 よく出る 14分で読める

aggravate

When something aggravates a problem, it makes it worse. Imagine you have a small cut, and then you pick at it. Picking at it would aggravate the cut, making it bigger or more painful.

It can also mean to annoy someone. If someone keeps tapping their foot loudly, it might aggravate you because it's irritating.

When something aggravates a problem, it makes it worse. Imagine you have a small cut, and then you pick at it; picking at it aggravates the cut.

It can also mean to make someone annoyed or upset. For example, if your little brother keeps poking you, he might aggravate you.

So, it's about making a bad situation or feeling even more difficult or irritating.

To aggravate something means to make it worse. Imagine you have a small cut, and then you pick at it; that would aggravate the cut and make it harder to heal.

It can also mean to annoy someone a lot, like when a little brother keeps bothering his older sister. His actions aggravate her.

So, if a situation or a person is already difficult, to aggravate it means to add to the problem or annoyance.

When something aggravates a situation, it means it makes it worse or more difficult. Imagine you have a small cut, and then you keep picking at it; that would aggravate the wound, making it heal slower or become infected.

It can also be used when someone is annoying you. If a person keeps tapping their pen loudly, that might aggravate you because it's irritating and makes you feel annoyed or frustrated.

The verb "aggravate" is used to describe making an existing negative situation or condition even worse. For example, a minor injury could be aggravated by not resting it, causing more pain or damage. Beyond physical issues, it can also refer to making a problem more severe or intensifying an unpleasant circumstance.

Additionally, "aggravate" can mean to irritate or annoy someone significantly, often through repeated actions or behaviors. Imagine someone constantly tapping their foot; this could aggravate you over time. Therefore, it implies a worsening effect, either on a situation or on a person's patience.

At the C2 level, 'aggravate' denotes an intensification of negativity, often with critical implications. It precisely describes the exacerbation of an existing problem, injury, or undesirable state, pushing it towards a more severe or detrimental condition.

Furthermore, it extends to the deliberate or inadvertent provocation of irritation or exasperation in an individual, usually through repetitive or persistent actions that undermine their composure.

Understanding its nuances implies recognizing the distinction between merely irritating and actively worsening a situation or emotional state.

The term suggests a measurable increase in severity or annoyance, necessitating a response to mitigate the aggravated condition.

aggravate 30秒で

  • intensify negative situations
  • annoy persistently
  • make worse or more serious

§ What does it mean and when do people use it?

The verb 'aggravate' is a versatile word in the English language, primarily indicating an intensification of something negative. It's often encountered in both formal and informal contexts, encompassing situations from physical ailments to interpersonal relations. Understanding its nuances is key to using it effectively, especially as it holds two distinct but related meanings: making something worse and annoying someone.

Core Meaning 1
To make a problem, injury, or unpleasant situation worse or more serious.

This is perhaps the most common usage of 'aggravate'. When a doctor advises a patient not to lift heavy objects, it's often to prevent them from aggravating an existing back injury. Similarly, certain actions can aggravate a difficult situation, leading to a more complex or severe outcome. This meaning implies a progression from bad to worse, a heightening of an already undesirable state. It suggests a detrimental impact, where a negative factor is intensified or exacerbated.

The loud noise began to aggravate her headache, making it almost unbearable.

Ignoring the signs of discontent will only aggravate the political tensions in the region.

Core Meaning 2
To annoy or exasperate someone, especially through persistent behavior.

While this meaning is often used interchangeably with 'annoy', 'aggravate' carries a slightly stronger connotation of persistent irritation, often to the point of exasperation. It suggests that the annoyance is not fleeting but rather a continuous or repetitive action that grates on one's nerves. This usage is more common in informal conversations and describes an emotional response rather than an objective worsening of a situation.

His constant complaining started to aggravate everyone in the room.

The child's incessant questions began to aggravate the teacher, who was trying to concentrate.

§ When do people use it?

'Aggravate' is used in a variety of contexts, often depending on which of its two core meanings is intended. Here are some common scenarios:

  • Medical Contexts: In medicine, 'aggravate' is frequently used to describe actions or conditions that worsen an injury, illness, or symptom. For example, a doctor might advise a patient to avoid certain activities that could aggravate their condition.
  • Problem-Solving and Diplomacy: When discussing complex issues, especially in politics, business, or international relations, 'aggravate' is used to describe actions that escalate a problem or make a difficult situation more challenging.
  • Interpersonal Relationships: In informal settings, 'aggravate' can describe actions or behaviors that irritate or vex another person. This often involves repetitive or thoughtless actions that get on someone's nerves.
  • Legal Contexts: In a legal sense, an 'aggravating factor' is something that increases the severity or culpability of a crime. This aligns with the first meaning of making something worse.

It's important to consider the context to correctly interpret the intended meaning of 'aggravate'. While both meanings revolve around making something more intense, one focuses on objective worsening and the other on subjective annoyance.

§ Understanding the Nuances of "Aggravate"

The verb "aggravate" is a versatile word in English, often encountered in both formal and informal contexts. It carries two primary meanings, each with its own set of grammatical considerations and common usages. Being a C1 level word, mastering its intricacies will significantly enhance your fluency and precision in expression.

DEFINITION
To make a problem, injury, or unpleasant situation worse or more serious.

When used in this sense, "aggravate" typically takes a direct object, which is the thing being made worse. There are no specific prepositions that are inherently linked to this usage; instead, the context of the sentence will dictate any accompanying prepositions for other elements of the sentence.

His constant complaining only served to aggravate the already tense situation.

The doctor warned that strenuous exercise could aggravate her knee injury.

The new policy may inadvertently aggravate existing social inequalities.

§ "Aggravate" to Annoy or Exasperate

DEFINITION
To annoy or exasperate someone, especially through persistent behavior.

In this usage, "aggravate" also takes a direct object, which is usually a person or sometimes an animal. When expressing who or what is being annoyed, no preposition is typically needed immediately after "aggravate." However, you might use prepositions to explain *how* or *why* someone is aggravated.

His constant whistling really tends to aggravate me.

The children's incessant chatter began to aggravate their tired parents.

It's not fair to purposefully aggravate your siblings just for a reaction.

§ Common Grammatical Structures

Regardless of the meaning, "aggravate" functions as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. Here are some common structures:

  • Subject + aggravate + Object: This is the most straightforward and common structure.
  • The loud music began to aggravate my headache.

  • Subject + aggravate + Object + (prepositional phrase): You can add prepositional phrases to provide more detail about the cause, manner, or extent of the aggravation.
  • His lack of effort will only aggravate his academic standing with the professor.

§ Avoiding Common Pitfalls

One common mistake is confusing "aggravate" with "irritate." While both can describe annoyance, "aggravate" often implies a worsening of an already existing state, or a more intense and persistent form of annoyance. "Irritate" can be used for simpler, less intense forms of annoyance.

§ Summary of Usage

In summary, "aggravate" is a powerful verb that conveys an intensification of negativity. Whether you are discussing a worsening situation or a growing annoyance, remember its transitive nature and focus on the direct object it affects. Practice using it in various contexts to solidify your understanding and integrate it naturally into your C1-level English vocabulary.

  • Use "aggravate" to describe making a bad situation, problem, or injury worse.
  • Use "aggravate" to describe annoying or exasperating someone, often persistently.
  • Always use a direct object after "aggravate."
  • Prepositions are used to provide additional context, not directly with the verb "aggravate" itself.

§ Definition

Word
Aggravate (verb)
CEFR Level
C1
Definition
To make a problem, injury, or unpleasant situation worse or more serious. It can also mean to annoy or exasperate someone, especially through persistent behavior.

§ Where you actually hear this word

The word "aggravate" is a versatile term frequently encountered in various contexts, particularly in professional and informational settings. Understanding its usage is crucial for C1 level English learners.

§ In the Workplace

In a professional environment, "aggravate" often appears when discussing issues, problems, or conflicts. It's used to describe actions or situations that worsen existing difficulties, making them harder to resolve.

  • Project Management: When a delay in one task causes further delays down the line, project managers might say, "The unexpected technical issue is likely to aggravate our timeline."
  • Customer Service: Dealing with dissatisfied customers, representatives might acknowledge, "We understand that the prolonged waiting time may aggravate your frustration."
  • Team Dynamics: In discussions about interpersonal issues, one might hear, "Constant gossip can really aggravate tensions within the team."

The new policy changes are expected to aggravate the workload for many employees.

§ In Academic Settings

At school or university, "aggravate" is common in academic discussions, especially when analyzing problems, research findings, or historical events.

  • Research Papers: Students might write, "Environmental pollution continues to aggravate global warming."
  • Debates: In a debate, a participant might argue, "Implementing that solution without considering its long-term effects could actually aggravate the underlying problem."
  • Medical Studies: In health-related courses, discussions often include how certain factors can aggravate existing medical conditions.

Lack of adequate sleep can aggravate stress levels in students.

§ In the News and Media

News reports frequently use "aggravate" to describe situations where existing crises or problems are intensifying. This can range from political tensions to natural disasters or economic downturns.

  • Political Commentary: "The recent diplomatic incident threatens to aggravate relations between the two countries."
  • Economic Reports: "Rising inflation will likely aggravate the financial struggles of low-income families."
  • Health News: "Experts warn that poor air quality can aggravate respiratory conditions."

The ongoing drought is expected to aggravate food shortages in the region.

§ Understanding the Nuances

While "aggravate" often implies making something worse, it's important to remember its secondary meaning: to annoy or exasperate. This usage is more common in informal conversations but can still appear in less formal news pieces or personal anecdotes within a professional context.

For example, if someone says, "His constant complaining began to aggravate everyone in the office," it clearly refers to annoyance rather than worsening a problem.

§ Synonyms and Related Terms

To further solidify your understanding, consider these synonyms that often convey similar meanings:

  • Exacerbate: (Formal) To make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
  • Worsen: To make or become worse.
  • Intensify: To become or make more intense.
  • Annoy: To make someone a little angry; to irritate.
  • Irritate: To make (someone) angry, impatient, or annoyed.

By recognizing the contexts in which "aggravate" is used and understanding its dual meaning, you can confidently integrate this C1-level word into your vocabulary for both comprehension and expression in various real-world situations.

§ Common Misinterpretations and Usage Errors

The word "aggravate" is frequently misused, leading to confusion and sometimes humorous misunderstandings. While it has a clear primary definition related to making something worse, its secondary meaning of annoying or irritating can often be the source of these errors. Let's delve into the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

§ Mistake 1: Using "Aggravate" as a Synonym for "Annoy" Exclusively

One of the most prevalent errors is using "aggravate" solely to mean "annoy" or "irritate," especially in situations where a more precise word would be better. While it *can* mean to annoy, particularly when referring to persistent and vexing behavior, its stronger and more formal meaning relates to worsening a situation.

DEFINITION
To make a problem, injury, or unpleasant situation worse or more serious.

Consider these examples:

  • Incorrect: "His constant talking really aggravated me during the meeting." (While understandable, "annoyed" or "irritated" would be more direct and less ambiguous.)

  • Correct: "His constant talking aggravated the tension in the room." (Here, it clearly means to make the tension worse, not just to annoy someone.)

§ Mistake 2: Confusing "Aggravate" with "Aggregate"

Though they sound somewhat similar, "aggravate" and "aggregate" have entirely different meanings. "Aggregate" means to form or collect into a mass or sum, or to amount to a whole. This is a classic example of confusing homophones or near-homophones.

DEFINITION
To make a problem, injury, or unpleasant situation worse or more serious. It can also mean to annoy or exasperate someone, especially through persistent behavior.

The pollution will aggravate her asthma.

§ Mistake 3: Overlooking the Nuance of "Annoy" vs. "Worsen"

While dictionaries acknowledge the "annoy" meaning, especially in informal contexts, using "aggravate" to mean simply "annoy" can sometimes sound overly formal or even a bit archaic to some ears, particularly when simpler, more common verbs are available.

  • Less precise: "The buzzing fly aggravated me all night."

  • More precise: "The buzzing fly annoyed me all night."

However, when the annoyance is persistent and contributes to a larger problem or tension, "aggravate" is perfectly suitable:

His constant questioning only served to aggravate the already tense situation.

§ Mistake 4: Using "Aggravate" for Minor Annoyances

Some speakers tend to use "aggravate" for very minor or fleeting annoyances, which can make their language sound overly dramatic or formal for the context. "Aggravate" implies a more significant impact than a momentary irritation.

  • Overstated: "The long queue aggravated my morning."

  • More appropriate: "The long queue delayed my morning" or "The long queue irritated me."

Use "aggravate" when the problem genuinely escalates or intensifies due to an action or situation.

Ignoring the warning signs will only aggravate the underlying issue.

§ Conclusion

To use "aggravate" effectively, remember its core meaning: to make something worse or more serious. While it can also imply annoyance, especially in the context of persistent behavior that exacerbates a situation, it's often best to reserve it for instances where a problem is genuinely intensifying. By understanding these nuances and common pitfalls, you can wield "aggravate" with precision and clarity, enhancing your C1 level English communication.

§ Similar words and when to use this one vs alternatives

The word "aggravate" is a versatile verb that carries two primary meanings: making something worse or annoying someone. Understanding its nuances and comparing it with similar words can help you use it more precisely.

DEFINITION
To make a problem, injury, or unpleasant situation worse or more serious. It can also mean to annoy or exasperate someone, especially through persistent behavior.

§ Aggravate (to make worse) vs. other verbs

When "aggravate" means to make something worse, it often implies an existing negative situation that is being intensified. Here's how it compares to some alternatives:

  • Worsen: This is a very direct synonym for "aggravate" in this context. "Worsen" is often used for general deterioration. "Aggravate" can imply a more active, sometimes external, cause for the deterioration.

The stress seemed to aggravate her headaches.

The economic situation continued to worsen.

  • Exacerbate: This is a more formal synonym for "aggravate." It strongly suggests making a bad situation or negative feeling even more intense or severe. "Exacerbate" is often used in academic or medical contexts.

His constant complaining only served to exacerbate the tension in the room.

  • Intensify: While similar, "intensify" can be used for both positive and negative things. "Aggravate" is almost exclusively negative.

The storm began to intensify as night fell.

§ Aggravate (to annoy) vs. other verbs

When "aggravate" means to annoy, it often implies a persistent or irritating behavior. Here are some comparisons:

  • Annoy: This is a general term for causing slight irritation. "Aggravate" can suggest a more intense or persistent form of annoyance, often leading to exasperation.

His constant whistling really aggravates me.

The buzzing fly annoyed him.

  • Irritate: Similar to "annoy," but can sometimes imply a physical discomfort as well as mental. "Aggravate" in this sense is more about psychological vexation.

The scratchy wool sweater began to irritate her skin.

  • Exasperate: This is a stronger form of annoyance, implying that someone is being pushed to their limits of patience or temper. "Aggravate" can lead to exasperation.

Their endless questions began to exasperate the teacher.

  • Pester: This implies bothering someone repeatedly, often with requests or demands. While pestering can aggravate someone, "aggravate" focuses more on the emotional effect rather than the action itself.

The children kept pestering their parents for ice cream.

§ Common Pitfalls and Usage Tips

While "aggravate" has two distinct meanings, context usually makes it clear which one is intended. However, be mindful of common mistakes:

  • Avoid confusing with "irritate" for physical reactions: While you can be aggravated by a situation, you wouldn't typically say a rash "aggravates" your skin; you'd say it "irritates" it.
  • Formality: "Aggravate" is more formal than "annoy" but less so than "exacerbate." Choose the word that best fits the tone of your writing or speech.
  • Intensifying existing issues: The "make worse" meaning of "aggravate" strongly implies that there was an existing problem or negative condition.

Lack of sleep can aggravate feelings of anxiety.

By carefully considering the specific context and the degree of negativity or annoyance you wish to convey, you can choose the most precise and impactful word from "aggravate" and its numerous alternatives.

How Formal Is It?

フォーマル

"The lack of proper funding will only exacerbate the existing challenges faced by the healthcare system."

ニュートラル

"His constant complaining only served to worsen the already tense atmosphere in the room."

カジュアル

"Don't mess with that cut, you'll just make it worse."

Child friendly

"If you keep poking the bruise, you'll make it worse, and it will hurt more."

スラング

"He really borked up the whole project with his last-minute changes."

難易度

読解 3/5

The word itself is not exceptionally long, but its two distinct meanings (making something worse vs. annoying someone) might require a bit more nuance to grasp in reading comprehension.

ライティング 3/5

Using 'aggravate' correctly requires understanding the subtle differences between its two primary senses. Misusing it by confusing 'making worse' with simply 'annoying' could lead to awkward phrasing.

スピーキング 3/5

Pronunciation is fairly straightforward. The difficulty comes from using it naturally and appropriately in conversation, especially differentiating between its two meanings without sounding forced.

リスニング 2/5

In most contexts, the meaning of 'aggravate' will be clear from the surrounding words, even with its dual definition. It's not a word that sounds similar to many others, reducing confusion.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

worsen annoy exacerbate irritate intensify provoke

次に学ぶ

deteriorate escalate compound inflame vex pester

上級

exasperate incense beleaguer discomfit foment impair

知っておくべき文法

Subject-Verb Agreement: The verb 'aggravate' must agree in number with its subject. If the subject is singular, 'aggravates' is used; if plural, 'aggravate' is used.

The loud noise aggravates his headache. (singular subject 'noise') / These new rules aggravate the employees. (plural subject 'rules')

Transitive Verb Usage: 'Aggravate' is a transitive verb, meaning it typically takes a direct object. It answers the question 'aggravate what?' or 'aggravate whom?'

His constant complaining aggravated the situation. (direct object 'situation') / Her attitude aggravated her colleagues. (direct object 'colleagues')

Usage with Modifiers: Adverbs can be used to modify 'aggravate' to describe how or to what extent something is made worse or someone is annoyed.

The situation was greatly aggravated by the new policy. / He intentionally aggravated his sister.

Placement in Sentences: 'Aggravate' can be used in various sentence structures, including active and passive voice.

Active: The lack of sleep aggravated her stress. / Passive: Her stress was aggravated by the lack of sleep.

Distinction from 'Annoy': While 'aggravate' can mean 'to annoy,' especially persistently, it often carries a stronger connotation of making a problem or situation more severe. It's important to choose the right verb based on the intensity of the intended meaning.

The constant dripping sound aggravated his nerves. (stronger, more serious annoyance) / The child's whining annoyed the parents. (general annoyance)

レベル別の例文

1

Loud noise can really aggravate my headaches.

เสียงดังอาจทำให้อาการปวดหัวของฉันแย่ลง

Here, 'aggravate' means to make a problem worse.

2

If you keep scratching that mosquito bite, you'll only aggravate it.

ถ้าคุณยังคงเกาตุ่มยุงกัด คุณก็จะยิ่งทำให้อาการแย่ลงไปอีก

In this sentence, 'aggravate' refers to making an injury worse.

3

His constant complaining began to aggravate everyone in the room.

การบ่นไม่หยุดหย่อนของเขาเริ่มทำให้ทุกคนในห้องหงุดหงิด

Here, 'aggravate' means to annoy someone.

4

The bad weather conditions aggravated the already difficult rescue mission.

สภาพอากาศเลวร้ายทำภารกิจกู้ภัยที่ยากลำบากอยู่แล้วแย่ลงไปอีก

'Aggravated' is used to describe making a situation more serious.

5

Please don't aggravate your sister; she's already upset.

โปรดอย่าทำให้พี่สาวของคุณหงุดหงิดเลย เธอเสียใจอยู่แล้ว

This example uses 'aggravate' to mean to annoy or exasperate someone.

6

Stress can often aggravate existing health problems.

ความเครียดมักจะทำให้อาการเจ็บป่วยที่มีอยู่แย่ลง

Here, 'aggravate' indicates making a problem worse.

7

His refusal to apologize only aggravated the tension between them.

การที่เขาปฏิเสธที่จะขอโทษยิ่งทำให้ความตึงเครียดระหว่างพวกเขารุนแรงขึ้น

'Aggravated' is used to describe making a situation worse.

8

I try not to aggravate my back injury by lifting heavy objects.

ฉันพยายามที่จะไม่ทำให้อาการบาดเจ็บที่หลังของฉันแย่ลงด้วยการยกของหนัก

This sentence uses 'aggravate' to refer to making an injury worse.

1

The loud music started to aggravate my headache.

เสียงเพลงที่ดังเริ่มทำให้ปวดหัวของฉันแย่ลง

Here, 'aggravate' means to make a problem (headache) worse.

2

Please don't aggravate your injury by trying to lift that heavy box.

โปรดอย่าทำให้อาการบาดเจ็บของคุณแย่ลงด้วยการพยายามยกกล่องหนักๆ นั่น

'Aggravate' in this sentence refers to making an injury more serious.

3

His constant complaining began to aggravate everyone in the room.

การบ่นไม่หยุดของเขาเริ่มทำให้ทุกคนในห้องรำคาญ

In this context, 'aggravate' means to annoy or exasperate someone.

4

The lack of sleep will only aggravate your stress.

การอดนอนจะยิ่งทำให้ความเครียดของคุณแย่ลงเท่านั้น

'Aggravate' is used to show that a situation (stress) will become worse.

5

Her comments were meant to aggravate the already tense situation.

ความคิดเห็นของเธอมีเจตนาที่จะทำให้สถานการณ์ที่ตึงเครียดอยู่แล้วแย่ลง

Here, 'aggravate' means to intensify or worsen an unpleasant situation.

6

I didn't mean to aggravate you with my questions, I was just curious.

ฉันไม่ได้ตั้งใจจะทำให้คุณรำคาญด้วยคำถามของฉัน ฉันแค่สงสัย

This usage of 'aggravate' implies causing annoyance to someone.

7

The doctor warned him not to aggravate his back pain by sitting for too long.

คุณหมอเตือนเขาว่าอย่าทำให้อาการปวดหลังแย่ลงด้วยการนั่งนานเกินไป

'Aggravate' here means to make a physical problem (back pain) worse.

8

Their constant arguing seemed to aggravate the tension between the two families.

การโต้เถียงกันไม่หยุดของพวกเขาดูเหมือนจะทำให้ความตึงเครียดระหว่างสองครอบครัวแย่ลง

In this sentence, 'aggravate' describes making a negative situation (tension) more serious.

1

The loud music continued to aggravate my headache, making it difficult to concentrate on my work.

The loud music continued to make my headache worse.

Here, 'aggravate' is used to describe worsening a physical condition.

2

His constant complaining began to aggravate his colleagues, who were trying to meet a tight deadline.

His constant complaining began to annoy his colleagues.

In this context, 'aggravate' means to annoy or irritate someone.

3

Ignoring the doctor's advice could aggravate your knee injury, leading to a much longer recovery period.

Ignoring the doctor's advice could make your knee injury more serious.

This sentence illustrates 'aggravate' in the sense of making an injury worse.

4

The politician's inflammatory remarks only served to aggravate tensions between the two opposing factions.

The politician's inflammatory remarks only served to make tensions worse.

Here, 'aggravate' refers to exacerbating a difficult situation.

5

Her persistent questioning started to aggravate her professor, who had already explained the concept several times.

Her persistent questioning started to annoy her professor.

This example shows 'aggravate' meaning to exasperate someone through repeated actions.

6

Lack of proper ventilation can aggravate respiratory problems, especially for individuals with asthma.

Lack of proper ventilation can make respiratory problems worse.

Used here to indicate a factor that worsens a health condition.

7

The company's decision to cut benefits further aggravated employee morale, leading to a significant increase in resignations.

The company's decision to cut benefits further worsened employee morale.

Describes the worsening of an abstract concept like morale.

8

Don't poke the sleeping bear; you'll only aggravate it and make the situation more dangerous.

Don't poke the sleeping bear; you'll only annoy/irritate it.

This is a more figurative use, implying provoking an animal to become aggressive.

1

His incessant tardiness began to seriously aggravate his colleagues, leading to a noticeable dip in team morale.

His constant lateness started to really annoy his coworkers, causing team spirit to drop.

Here, 'aggravate' is used in the sense of annoying someone. The subject 'tardiness' is singular, requiring the singular verb 'began'.

2

The doctor warned that any strenuous activity would only aggravate her back injury, prolonging her recovery.

The doctor cautioned that intense exercise would just worsen her back problem, making her healing take longer.

In this sentence, 'aggravate' means to make a situation worse. The modal verb 'would' indicates a conditional outcome.

3

Despite repeated attempts to mediate, their long-standing disagreements continued to aggravate diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Even with many tries to find a middle ground, their old arguments kept making the relationship between the two countries worse.

Here, 'aggravate' refers to worsening a situation. The phrase 'long-standing disagreements' acts as the subject for the plural verb 'continued'.

4

The politician's provocative statements served only to aggravate an already tense social climate, sparking further unrest.

The politician's inflammatory comments only made an already tense social situation worse, causing more trouble.

'Aggravate' signifies making a problem more serious. The verb 'served' is in the past tense, indicating a past action.

5

She found that ignoring the minor issues would only aggravate them into larger, more unmanageable problems.

She realized that if she ignored the small problems, they would just turn into bigger, harder-to-handle ones.

This example uses 'aggravate' to mean making a problem worse. The conditional structure 'would only aggravate' expresses a likely outcome.

6

His constant complaining about trivial matters started to aggravate everyone around him, making social gatherings uncomfortable.

His endless complaining about unimportant things began to annoy everyone near him, making social events awkward.

Here, 'aggravate' is used in the sense of annoying someone. The gerund phrase 'His constant complaining' functions as the subject.

7

The financial crisis was further aggravated by the government's delayed response and inadequate policy measures.

The money crisis got even worse because the government reacted slowly and its policies weren't good enough.

'Aggravated' is used in the passive voice, indicating that the financial crisis was acted upon. 'Further' emphasizes the intensification.

8

He worried that bringing up the sensitive topic again would only aggravate the fragile peace they had managed to establish.

He was concerned that mentioning the delicate subject again would just make the delicate peace they had created worse.

In this case, 'aggravate' means to make a situation worse. The phrase 'bringing up the sensitive topic' acts as the subject for the conditional verb 'would aggravate'.

類義語

exacerbate worsen inflame intensify provoke irritate

文法パターン

Transitive verb Can be used with a direct object (problem, injury, person) Often followed by a noun phrase Can be used in the passive voice (e.g., 'He was aggravated by...') Can be followed by a prepositional phrase (e.g., 'aggravate with/by') Often used to describe a worsening condition or situation

慣用句と表現

"add fuel to the fire"

To make a bad situation even worse; to exacerbate a conflict or problem.

Bringing up old arguments will only add fuel to the fire and won't help us resolve anything.

neutral

"rub salt in the wound"

To make someone's distress or suffering worse by reminding them of their failures or misfortunes.

Don't rub salt in his wound by mentioning his recent job loss; he's already feeling terrible.

neutral

"make a mountain out of a molehill"

To exaggerate the importance or seriousness of a problem.

It was just a small misunderstanding, but she tends to make a mountain out of a molehill.

neutral

"get on someone's nerves"

To annoy or irritate someone persistently.

His constant whistling really gets on my nerves after a while.

informal

"drive someone up the wall"

To make someone extremely annoyed or frustrated.

The incessant noise from the construction site is driving me up the wall.

informal

"push someone's buttons"

To deliberately annoy or provoke someone by doing or saying things that are known to irritate them.

He knows how to push my buttons, always bringing up topics we disagree on.

informal

"stir up a hornet's nest"

To create a lot of trouble, anger, or controversy.

The politician's controversial statement really stirred up a hornet's nest among voters.

neutral

"fan the flames"

To encourage or intensify a bad situation, feeling, or conflict.

Instead of trying to calm things down, he decided to fan the flames by spreading rumors.

neutral

"be a pain in the neck/butt"

To be very annoying or troublesome.

This malfunctioning printer is a real pain in the neck.

informal

"aggravate the situation"

To make a problem or conflict worse; a more formal or direct way of saying 'add fuel to the fire'.

The lack of communication only served to aggravate the situation between the two departments.

formal

文型パターン

B2

to aggravate [something]

The loud music aggravated his headache.

C1

to aggravate [someone] (with/by [something])

Her constant complaining aggravated him.

C1

[something] aggravates [something else]

The lack of rain aggravated the drought conditions.

C1

to aggravate a situation/problem/injury

Poor posture can aggravate back pain.

C1

[someone] is aggravated by [something]

She was aggravated by the endless bureaucracy.

C1

to aggravate an existing condition

Stress can aggravate an existing heart condition.

C2

the situation was aggravated by [factor]

The economic crisis was aggravated by political instability.

C2

to further aggravate [something]

His insensitive remarks only served to further aggravate the tension.

語族

名詞

aggravation the state of being made worse or more serious; annoyance or exasperation

動詞

aggravate to make a problem, injury, or unpleasant situation worse or more serious; to annoy or exasperate someone

形容詞

aggravating making a situation worse or more serious; annoying or exasperating
aggravated made worse or more serious; annoyed or exasperated

使い方

The primary meaning of 'aggravate' is to make something worse. For example, 'The loud music aggravated my headache.' It can also mean to annoy or irritate, as in 'His constant complaining really aggravates me.' While both uses are common, it's good to be aware of the distinction.

よくある間違い

A common mistake is using 'aggravate' when 'annoy' or 'irritate' would be more appropriate, especially in formal contexts where the 'make worse' meaning is expected. For instance, saying 'He aggravated me by chewing loudly' is technically correct, but 'He annoyed me' is often a more natural and direct choice. Another mistake is to use it interchangeably with 'exacerbate' without understanding the subtle difference: 'exacerbate' specifically means to make a bad situation or negative feeling worse, while 'aggravate' can apply to both problems/injuries and people.

よくある質問

10 問

Certainly! Here are a few examples:

  • 'The loud music aggravated my headache.'
  • 'His constant complaining began to aggravate his colleagues.'
  • 'The company's new policies only served to aggravate the already tense situation.'

That's a great question! While both can involve irritation, 'annoy' usually refers to causing mild irritation or bother. 'Aggravate,' on the other hand, often implies making a bad situation or feeling worse, or intensely irritating someone to the point of exasperation. Think of 'annoy' as a gentle poke and 'aggravate' as a persistent jab that makes something already bad, even worse.

Yes, there are! Some common synonyms include exacerbate, worsen, intensify, and provoke (in the sense of provoking anger or a negative reaction). For the 'annoy' meaning, you could also use irritate, exasperate, or pester.

'Aggravate' is generally considered a formal to semi-formal word. It's perfectly suitable for academic writing, professional communication, and everyday conversations, but it doesn't sound overly casual.

That's an interesting point! While you wouldn't typically say you 'aggravate' a person's character, you can certainly say someone's actions aggravate another person's feelings, a medical condition they have, or an existing conflict with them. For example, 'His rude comments only aggravated her anger.'

The noun form of 'aggravate' is aggravation. For example, 'The constant delays caused a lot of aggravation.'

Yes, almost always. 'Aggravate' inherently means to make something worse or more serious, or to annoy someone. Therefore, it consistently carries a negative connotation.

Absolutely! It's very common to use 'aggravate' in the context of physical pain or injuries. For instance, 'Lifting heavy weights could aggravate your back injury,' or 'The cold weather aggravated her arthritis.'

That's a subtle distinction! While both can imply an increase, 'escalate' specifically means to increase in intensity or magnitude, often in a step-by-step or progressive manner, like an argument escalating. 'Aggravate' means to make something already bad, worse, or to cause deeper annoyance. So, an argument might escalate, and someone's comments might aggravate the tension in that argument.

One common mistake is confusing it with 'annoy' and using 'aggravate' when the intention is simply mild irritation, rather than making something worse. Another is using it incorrectly to describe making a person (rather than a situation or feeling) worse. Remember, it usually focuses on making a problem or unpleasantness more severe.

自分をテスト 144 問

fill blank A1

The loud noise might ___ his headache.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Aggravate means to make something worse. Loud noise can make a headache worse.

fill blank A1

Don't poke the dog; you will ___ it.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To aggravate means to annoy. Poking a dog might annoy it.

fill blank A1

Her constant complaining began to ___ me.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Constant complaining can annoy or exasperate someone, which means to aggravate them.

fill blank A1

Eating spicy food might ___ your stomach ache.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Spicy food can make a stomach ache worse, which means to aggravate it.

fill blank A1

The cold weather can ___ his old knee injury.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Cold weather can make an old injury worse, meaning to aggravate it.

fill blank A1

Please don't interrupt her; you will ___ her.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Interrupting someone can annoy them, which means to aggravate them.

multiple choice A1

Which word means to make something worse?

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To aggravate means to make a problem worse.

multiple choice A1

If your friend keeps making noise, it might _____ you.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To aggravate can also mean to annoy someone.

multiple choice A1

Eating spicy food can _____ a stomach ache.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Spicy food can make a stomach ache worse.

true false A1

To aggravate means to make a situation better.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

To aggravate means to make a situation worse, not better.

true false A1

If someone is very annoying, they might aggravate you.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

Aggravate can mean to annoy or exasperate someone.

true false A1

Putting ice on a bruise will aggravate it.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

Putting ice on a bruise usually helps it, it does not make it worse.

listening A1

Think about what makes a headache worse.

正解! おしい! 正解: The loud music will aggravate my headache.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening A1

Consider what actions might annoy someone.

正解! おしい! 正解: Don't aggravate your sister by taking her toy.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening A1

What kind of food can make a stomachache feel worse?

正解! おしい! 正解: Eating spicy food can aggravate a stomachache.
正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

I don't want to aggravate the situation.

Focus: ag-gra-vate

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

Please don't aggravate him.

Focus: ag-gra-vate

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking A1

Read this aloud:

The doctor told me not to aggravate my injury.

Focus: ag-gra-vate

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing A1

Write a short sentence about something that can make a small problem worse.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Not sleeping can make a cold worse.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing A1

Imagine you have a little cut. What would make it 'aggravate'?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Playing in the dirt can aggravate my cut.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing A1

Write a sentence about someone who is annoying another person.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

My brother can aggravate me when he sings loudly.

正解! おしい! 正解:
reading A1

What makes Tom's headache worse?

Read this passage:

Tom has a small headache. He watches TV very loudly. The loud TV can make his headache worse.

What makes Tom's headache worse?

正解! おしい! 正解: The loud TV

The passage says, 'The loud TV can make his headache worse.'

正解! おしい! 正解: The loud TV

The passage says, 'The loud TV can make his headache worse.'

reading A1

What might 'aggravate' Maria's cough?

Read this passage:

Maria has a cough. She goes outside without a coat when it's cold. This can make her cough worse.

What might 'aggravate' Maria's cough?

正解! おしい! 正解: Going outside in the cold

The passage states that 'going outside without a coat when it's cold' can make her cough worse, which means it can aggravate it.

正解! おしい! 正解: Going outside in the cold

The passage states that 'going outside without a coat when it's cold' can make her cough worse, which means it can aggravate it.

reading A1

What does the dog do that makes the neighbor angry?

Read this passage:

My dog barks a lot when people walk by. Sometimes, this barking makes my neighbor angry. The dog's barking 'aggravates' the neighbor.

What does the dog do that makes the neighbor angry?

正解! おしい! 正解: Barks a lot

The passage says, 'My dog barks a lot when people walk by. Sometimes, this barking makes my neighbor angry.' This means the barking aggravates the neighbor.

正解! おしい! 正解: Barks a lot

The passage says, 'My dog barks a lot when people walk by. Sometimes, this barking makes my neighbor angry.' This means the barking aggravates the neighbor.

sentence order A1

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: do not aggravate the dog

This sentence tells someone not to bother the dog, using 'aggravate' in the sense of annoying.

sentence order A1

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: the loud noise will aggravate him

This sentence indicates that the noise will annoy the person.

sentence order A1

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: don't aggravate your cold

This sentence means 'don't make your cold worse'.

fill blank A2

Please try not to ___ your cough by talking too much.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make something worse. In this sentence, talking too much could make a cough worse.

fill blank A2

Loud noises can ___ my headache.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make a problem worse. Loud noises can make a headache worse.

fill blank A2

Don't ___ the situation by yelling.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make a situation worse. Yelling can make a bad situation even worse.

fill blank A2

His constant complaining began to ___ me.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' can also mean to annoy someone. Constant complaining would be annoying.

fill blank A2

The doctor told him not to exercise, so he wouldn't ___ his injury.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' an injury means to make it worse. The doctor advised against exercise to prevent this.

fill blank A2

Her messy room always ___ her mother.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravates

To 'aggravate' means to annoy or exasperate someone. A messy room can annoy a mother.

multiple choice A2

Which word is similar in meaning to 'aggravate'?

正解! おしい! 正解: Worsen

To aggravate means to make something worse or more serious.

multiple choice A2

If you have a small cut and you scratch it, you might _______ it.

正解! おしい! 正解: Aggravate

Scratching a cut can make it worse or more irritated.

multiple choice A2

Which action would NOT aggravate a noisy situation?

正解! おしい! 正解: Closing the window

Closing the window would likely reduce noise, not make it worse.

true false A2

If you don't rest a sprained ankle, you can aggravate the injury.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

Not resting a sprained ankle can make the injury worse.

true false A2

Eating healthy food will aggravate your general health.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

Eating healthy food typically improves, rather than aggravates, health.

true false A2

Loud noises can aggravate a headache.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

Loud noises can make a headache feel worse.

listening A2

The speaker is giving advice about an insect bite.

正解! おしい! 正解: Don't scratch the insect bite, or you'll aggravate it.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening A2

The speaker is talking about what makes their headache worse.

正解! おしい! 正解: Loud noises can sometimes aggravate my headache.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening A2

The speaker is talking about how someone's behavior made them feel.

正解! おしい! 正解: His constant complaining began to aggravate me.
正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

Please don't aggravate the situation by arguing more.

Focus: ag-gra-vate

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

If you don't rest, you might aggravate your injury.

Focus: in-ju-ry

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking A2

Read this aloud:

Her repeated questions started to aggravate him.

Focus: re-peat-ed

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing A2

Write a short sentence about something that can make a small problem worse.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Not resting can make a cold worse.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing A2

Complete the sentence: Loud noises can ______ a headache.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

Loud noises can make a headache worse.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing A2

Describe a simple situation where one person might annoy another.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

My brother can annoy me when he sings loudly.

正解! おしい! 正解:
reading A2

What made Tom's cut worse?

Read this passage:

Tom had a small cut on his hand. He didn't clean it well. Later, the cut started to hurt more and became red. Not cleaning it made the problem worse.

What made Tom's cut worse?

正解! おしい! 正解: He didn't clean it well.

The passage states that 'Not cleaning it made the problem worse.'

正解! おしい! 正解: He didn't clean it well.

The passage states that 'Not cleaning it made the problem worse.'

reading A2

How did the loud music make Maria feel?

Read this passage:

Maria was trying to study, but her neighbor was playing very loud music. The music made it hard for her to focus. She felt angry because of the noise.

How did the loud music make Maria feel?

正解! おしい! 正解: Annoyed

The passage says, 'She felt angry because of the noise,' which means she was annoyed.

正解! おしい! 正解: Annoyed

The passage says, 'She felt angry because of the noise,' which means she was annoyed.

reading A2

What can happen if you don't take care of a small injury?

Read this passage:

If you have a small injury, it's important to take care of it. If you don't rest or put ice on it, the injury might get worse. This means it will hurt more or take longer to heal.

What can happen if you don't take care of a small injury?

正解! おしい! 正解: It might get worse.

The passage states, 'If you don't rest or put ice on it, the injury might get worse.'

正解! おしい! 正解: It might get worse.

The passage states, 'If you don't rest or put ice on it, the injury might get worse.'

sentence order A2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: don't aggravate the situation

This sentence means 'don't make the situation worse'. The verb 'aggravate' comes after 'don't'.

sentence order A2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: The loud noise can aggravate my headache

This sentence means 'The loud noise can make my headache worse'. 'Aggravate' describes what the noise does to the headache.

sentence order A2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: Please don't aggravate him with questions

This sentence means 'Please don't annoy him with questions'. 'Aggravate' is used here to mean annoy.

fill blank B1

The loud music started to ___ his headache, making it even worse.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make something worse. In this context, the loud music is making the headache more severe.

fill blank B1

Her constant complaining began to ___ her friends, who eventually stopped inviting her out.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' can also mean to annoy or exasperate someone. Her complaining is annoying her friends.

fill blank B1

If you don't rest your sprained ankle, you will only ___ the injury.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Not resting a sprained ankle will make the injury worse, so 'aggravate' is the correct word.

fill blank B1

His sarcastic comments tended to ___ already tense situations.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Sarcastic comments would make tense situations worse, hence 'aggravate'.

fill blank B1

Don't scratch that mosquito bite; it will only ___ the itch.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Scratching a mosquito bite will make the itching sensation worse, which means to 'aggravate' it.

fill blank B1

The delay in the project started to ___ the client, who was expecting it to be finished soon.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

The client would be annoyed by the project delay, so 'aggravate' is the correct choice.

multiple choice B1

Which of these might aggravate a headache?

正解! おしい! 正解: Loud noises and bright lights

Loud noises and bright lights can make a headache worse, or aggravate it.

multiple choice B1

What does it mean if you aggravate an injury?

正解! おしい! 正解: You make it more serious or painful.

To aggravate an injury means to make it worse or more serious.

multiple choice B1

If someone is constantly complaining, how might they aggravate you?

正解! おしい! 正解: They annoy or exasperate you.

Persistent complaining can annoy or exasperate someone, which is a meaning of 'aggravate'.

true false B1

Eating spicy food might aggravate a stomach ache.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

Spicy food can make a stomach ache worse, so it can aggravate it.

true false B1

Being quiet and polite will usually aggravate people.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

Being quiet and polite usually has the opposite effect; it would not aggravate people.

true false B1

If you scratch an insect bite, you might aggravate it.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

Scratching an insect bite can make it more itchy or inflamed, which means you aggravate it.

listening B1

What makes headaches worse?

正解! おしい! 正解: Loud noises can often aggravate my headaches.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening B1

What should you avoid doing to the dog?

正解! おしい! 正解: Please don't aggravate the dog; he's already a bit agitated.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening B1

What effect does lack of sleep have on stress?

正解! おしい! 正解: Lack of sleep will only aggravate your stress levels.
正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

The constant complaining began to aggravate her.

Focus: aggravate

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

Don't aggravate your injury by trying to lift heavy objects.

Focus: injury, aggravate

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking B1

Read this aloud:

His rude comments really started to aggravate the situation.

Focus: aggravate, situation

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing B1

Write a short paragraph about a time something got worse instead of better. Use the word 'aggravate'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

My headache started small, but instead of taking a rest, I kept working. This only served to aggravate the pain, making it much worse by the end of the day.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing B1

Imagine you have a friend who is constantly late. How does this 'aggravate' you? Write two sentences.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

My friend's constant lateness really starts to aggravate me. It makes me feel disrespected and often messes up my plans.

正解! おしい! 正解:
writing B1

Describe a situation where a small problem could easily be 'aggravated' into a much bigger one if not handled carefully. Use about 30 words.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Sample answer

A small crack in a wall might seem minor, but if ignored, water could get in and aggravate the damage, leading to much larger structural issues over time.

正解! おしい! 正解:
reading B1

What made Mark's wound worse?

Read this passage:

Mark had a small cut on his hand. He didn't clean it properly and kept touching it with dirty hands. This began to aggravate the wound, making it red and painful. He realized he needed to see a doctor.

What made Mark's wound worse?

正解! おしい! 正解: He touched it with dirty hands.

The passage states that 'He didn't clean it properly and kept touching it with dirty hands. This began to aggravate the wound'.

正解! おしい! 正解: He touched it with dirty hands.

The passage states that 'He didn't clean it properly and kept touching it with dirty hands. This began to aggravate the wound'.

reading B1

What problem was expected to get worse because of the rain?

Read this passage:

The weather forecast warned of heavy rain, which could aggravate the already flooded roads. Drivers were advised to be careful and avoid unnecessary travel, as conditions were expected to worsen.

What problem was expected to get worse because of the rain?

正解! おしい! 正解: The flooded roads.

The passage says 'heavy rain, which could aggravate the already flooded roads', meaning the roads would become more flooded.

正解! おしい! 正解: The flooded roads.

The passage says 'heavy rain, which could aggravate the already flooded roads', meaning the roads would become more flooded.

reading B1

What was making Sarah annoyed?

Read this passage:

Sarah's little brother kept asking her the same question over and over. She tried to be patient, but his persistent behavior started to aggravate her. Eventually, she had to ask him to stop.

What was making Sarah annoyed?

正解! おしい! 正解: Her brother's persistent questions.

The passage states 'his persistent behavior started to aggravate her', and this behavior was 'asking her the same question over and over'.

正解! おしい! 正解: Her brother's persistent questions.

The passage states 'his persistent behavior started to aggravate her', and this behavior was 'asking her the same question over and over'.

sentence order B1

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: His constant complaints only served to aggravate the situation.

This sentence means his complaints made the situation worse.

sentence order B1

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: Don't scratch that itch, it will only aggravate your skin.

Scratching an itch can make the skin problem worse.

sentence order B1

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: The loud music began to aggravate the neighbors.

The loud music started to annoy the neighbors.

fill blank B2

The loud music started to ___ his headache, making it difficult to concentrate.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make a problem worse. In this context, the loud music is making his headache worse.

fill blank B2

Constant complaining will only ___ the situation, not solve it.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

In this sentence, 'aggravate' means to make the situation worse or more serious.

fill blank B2

Her persistent questions began to ___ him, and he eventually lost his patience.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Here, 'aggravate' is used in the sense of annoying or exasperating someone, especially through persistent behavior.

fill blank B2

If you keep scratching that mosquito bite, you'll only ___ the itching.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Scratching the bite will make the itching worse, so 'aggravate' is the correct word.

fill blank B2

The manager's unreasonable demands tended to ___ the employees, causing low morale.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Unreasonable demands would annoy or exasperate employees, fitting the meaning of 'aggravate'.

fill blank B2

Don't say anything that might ___ the already tense negotiations.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

In this context, 'aggravate' means to make the tense situation even worse or more serious.

multiple choice B2

The loud music started to ___ his headache, making it difficult to concentrate.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make a problem worse. In this context, the loud music made his headache more severe.

multiple choice B2

Constantly interrupting someone is sure to ___ them.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' can also mean to annoy or exasperate someone. Interrupting is typically annoying.

multiple choice B2

Ignoring the doctor's advice will only ___ your injury.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Disregarding medical advice is likely to make an injury worse, which is the definition of 'aggravate'.

true false B2

If you aggravate a situation, you are making it better.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

To 'aggravate' means to make a situation worse or more serious, not better.

true false B2

A persistent dripping faucet might aggravate a person.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

A persistent dripping faucet can certainly annoy or exasperate someone, which is one meaning of 'aggravate'.

true false B2

Using a cold compress on a sprained ankle can aggravate the injury.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

A cold compress is typically used to reduce swelling and pain, which would help an injury, not aggravate it.

listening B2

Think about how loud music can affect a headache.

正解! おしい! 正解: The loud music started to aggravate my headache.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening B2

Consider how someone's constant complaining might affect others.

正解! おしい! 正解: His constant complaining began to aggravate his colleagues.
正解! おしい! 正解:
listening B2

What effect might spicy food have on an upset stomach?

正解! おしい! 正解: Eating spicy food can aggravate an upset stomach.
正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking B2

Read this aloud:

Please try not to aggravate the situation further.

Focus: AG-gra-vate

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking B2

Read this aloud:

His sarcastic comments only served to aggravate the tension in the room.

Focus: sa-RCAS-tic COM-ments

正解! おしい! 正解:
speaking B2

Read this aloud:

I'm worried that lifting heavy boxes will aggravate my back injury.

Focus: ag-gra-VATE my BACK in-ju-ry

正解! おしい! 正解:
sentence order B2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: His constant complaints only served to aggravate the tension

This sentence structure correctly places the subject, verb, and object to convey that the complaints made the tension worse.

sentence order B2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: Don't scratch that itch, it will only aggravate the rash

The order of the words logically explains that scratching will worsen the rash.

sentence order B2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: Her persistent questioning began to aggravate her colleagues

This arrangement correctly shows how her actions started to annoy her colleagues.

fill blank C1

The constant noise from the construction site began to ___ her already fragile nerves, making it impossible to concentrate.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make a problem or unpleasant situation worse. In this context, the noise worsened her nerves.

fill blank C1

His persistent refusal to compromise only served to ___ the tensions between the two factions, pushing them further apart.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' can also mean to make a situation more serious or intense. Here, his refusal made the tensions worse.

fill blank C1

Ignoring medical advice can seriously ___ an existing injury, potentially leading to long-term complications.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' an injury means to make it worse or more severe, often through improper care or ignoring advice.

fill blank C1

The manager's condescending remarks did nothing but ___ the already resentful employees, fueling their desire for a strike.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

In this sense, 'aggravate' means to annoy or exasperate someone, making their existing resentment worse.

fill blank C1

His tendency to interrupt during important meetings would always ___ his colleagues, making productive discussions difficult.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' someone means to annoy or irritate them, especially through persistent behavior like interrupting.

fill blank C1

The lack of immediate action from the authorities threatened to ___ the public's discontent, possibly leading to widespread protests.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

Here, 'aggravate' is used to convey that the lack of action would make the public's discontent worse or more intense.

multiple choice C1

The constant itching from the mosquito bites began to _____ the child's discomfort, leading to incessant scratching.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make a problem or situation worse. In this context, the itching made the child's discomfort more severe.

multiple choice C1

His sarcastic remarks only served to _____ an already tense situation, making negotiations even more challenging.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' can also mean to make a situation worse or more serious. His sarcastic remarks worsened the tense atmosphere.

multiple choice C1

The persistent questioning from the reporter seemed to _____ the celebrity, who eventually walked out of the interview.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' can mean to annoy or exasperate someone, especially through persistent behavior. The reporter's questions annoyed the celebrity.

true false C1

Taking ibuprofen for a headache can aggravate the pain.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

Ibuprofen is a pain reliever and would typically alleviate, not aggravate, a headache.

true false C1

Ignoring a small cut can aggravate the wound, potentially leading to infection.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

Neglecting a cut can make it worse and more serious, which aligns with the definition of 'aggravate'.

true false C1

A calm demeanor and polite language can often aggravate a heated argument.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

A calm demeanor and polite language would typically de-escalate, not aggravate, a heated argument.

fill blank C2

The persistent noise from the construction site began to ___ his already frayed nerves, making it difficult to concentrate.

正解! おしい! 正解: aggravate

To 'aggravate' means to make a situation worse or to annoy someone. In this context, the noise is worsening his nerves.

fill blank C2

Ignoring the doctor's advice, he continued to exert himself, only to ___ his back injury further.

正解! おしい! 正解: exacerbate

'Exacerbate' is a synonym for 'aggravate', meaning to make a problem worse. It fits the context of worsening an injury.

fill blank C2

Her incessant questioning and nitpicking began to ___ the speaker, leading to a noticeable shift in his demeanor.

正解! おしい! 正解: nettle

'Nettle' means to annoy or irritate someone, which aligns with the secondary meaning of 'aggravate' in this context.

fill blank C2

The minor misunderstanding was allowed to fester, gradually ___ into a full-blown dispute among the colleagues.

正解! おしい! 正解: metamorphosing

While 'aggravate' could fit, 'metamorphosing' (changing completely) captures the idea of a minor issue becoming a major one, implying it was aggravated over time.

fill blank C2

To ___ the already precarious geopolitical situation would be an act of profound irresponsibility.

正解! おしい! 正解: inflame

'Inflame' means to make a situation worse or more intense, perfectly capturing the sense of 'aggravate' in a serious context.

fill blank C2

He was prone to histrionics, often seeking to ___ every minor inconvenience into a catastrophic event.

正解! おしい! 正解: magnify

'Magnify' means to make something appear greater than it is, which is a way of 'aggravating' or worsening a situation in a dramatic sense.

multiple choice C2

The new regulations, rather than simplifying the process, seem to ______ the existing bureaucratic hurdles.

正解! おしい! 正解: exacerbate

To 'aggravate' means to make a problem worse. 'Exacerbate' is a sophisticated synonym that fits the C2 level context of making bureaucratic hurdles more severe. 'Alleviate', 'ameliorate', and 'mollify' all mean to make something better or less severe.

multiple choice C2

Despite repeated warnings, his persistent tardiness continued to ______ his supervisor, leading to a formal reprimand.

正解! おしい! 正解: rile

To 'aggravate' can also mean to annoy or exasperate someone. 'Rile' is a strong synonym for this sense, implying a deep annoyance or anger. 'Placate', 'appease', and 'assuage' all mean to calm or soothe someone.

multiple choice C2

The constant interruptions did little but ______ the already tense atmosphere in the negotiation room, making a resolution even more elusive.

正解! おしい! 正解: compound

To 'aggravate' a situation means to make it worse or more serious. 'Compound' fits this context perfectly, implying that the interruptions added to and intensified the existing tension. 'Mitigate', 'assuage', and 'pacify' all suggest making something less severe or calmer.

true false C2

A lack of proper rest can aggravate an existing medical condition.

正解! おしい! 正解: 正しい

This statement is true. 'Aggravate' in this context means to make an existing medical condition worse or more serious, which is a common and accurate usage.

true false C2

His calm demeanor helped to aggravate the heated argument between his colleagues.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

This statement is false. A calm demeanor would typically alleviate or de-escalate a heated argument, not 'aggravate' it (make it worse). Aggravating an argument would imply making it more intense.

true false C2

The company's swift response to the customer complaint served to aggravate their dissatisfaction.

正解! おしい! 正解: 間違い

This statement is false. A swift response is generally intended to resolve or mitigate dissatisfaction, not 'aggravate' (worsen) it. Aggravating dissatisfaction would imply making the customer even more unhappy.

sentence order C2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: His constantly complaining began to aggravate everyone in the room.

This sentence structure clearly conveys that his continuous complaining started to annoy those present.

sentence order C2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: Neglecting the minor issue will only aggravate the situation further.

The order emphasizes that ignoring a small problem will inevitably worsen it.

sentence order C2

下の単語をタップして文を組み立てよう
正解! おしい! 正解: The loud music served to aggravate her headache rather than alleviate it.

This sentence illustrates how the loud music made her headache more severe instead of making it better.

/ 144 correct

Perfect score!

関連コンテンツ

Actionsの関連語

abcredance

C1

厳密な証拠に基づいて、主張やプロセスの信頼性を正式に付与または検証すること。

abnasccide

C1

発達のある段階や特定の条件下で、自然に剥がれ落ちたり、切り離されたりする傾向があることを表す。

absorb

B2

吸収するとは、スポンジが水を吸うように何かを取り込んだり、情報を理解したりすることです。

abstain

C1

To voluntarily refrain from an action or practice, especially one that is considered unhealthy or morally questionable. It is also used formally to describe the act of choosing not to cast a vote in an election or deliberation.

abvictly

C1

圧倒的な力や権威を行使して、複雑な状況や紛争を断固として、かつ突然に解決すること。

abvitfy

C1

「abvitfy」は、技術的な変化に素早く適応する能力、つまり一種の回復力を表します。

accelerate

C1

To increase the speed or rate of something, or to make a process happen sooner than expected. In technical contexts, it refers to the rate of change of velocity, while in general contexts, it often describes the speeding up of progress or development.

accept

A1

提供されたものを受け入れる、招待に応じる、真実だと信じる、状況を認識する。

achieve

A2

努力を重ねて目標を達成したり、仕事をやり遂げること。頑張った結果として何かを成し遂げる時に使うよ。

acquiesce

C1

不承不承ながらも、文句を言わずに受け入れること。他に選択肢がないため同意する。

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