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B1 verb #7,500 most common 11 min read

agravar

Top 7,500

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips agravar in 30 Seconds

Explanation agravar in your Level:

At the A1 level, the word agravar is quite advanced. Most beginners will first learn the word malo (bad) and then peor (worse). To say something is getting worse, an A1 student might say "está más malo" or "es peor." However, it's good to recognize agravar as a more serious version of "making things bad." Imagine you have a small problem, and then you do something that makes it a big, serious problem. That is 'agravar.' Even though you might not use it in your daily basic conversations about your family or your favorite food, you will see it in news titles. Think of it as 'a-grave-ar'—making something 'grave' or serious. If you are sick and you go out in the rain, you can 'agravar' your cold. Keep it simple: agravar = make worse.

By A2, you are starting to use more verbs to describe changes. You likely know empeorar (to get worse), which is the most common way to say this. Agravar is a more formal brother of empeorar. You will hear it when people talk about the news or health. For example, "La lluvia agrava el tráfico" (The rain makes the traffic worse/more serious). Notice that it ends in -ar, so it conjugates just like hablar: yo agravo, tú agravas, él agrava. You might also see it as agravarse when a situation gets worse by itself. "La situación se agrava." At this level, try to recognize it when you read short news articles or listen to weather reports. It adds a touch of seriousness to your vocabulary that 'empeorar' doesn't always have.

At the B1 level, agravar is a key vocabulary word for discussing abstract problems, health, and social issues. You should be able to use it comfortably in both its transitive form ("Su actitud agravó el conflicto") and its reflexive form ("Su enfermedad se agravó"). This is the level where you must distinguish between 'annoying' someone (molestar) and 'aggravating' a situation (agravar). Many English speakers make the mistake of using 'agravar' for people, but at B1, you should know it's for situations or conditions. You will also encounter the adjective grave (serious) and the noun gravedad (gravity/seriousness). Using 'agravar' shows that you are moving beyond basic descriptions and are able to discuss the intensity and seriousness of events in a more nuanced way, especially in professional or academic settings.

For B2 students, agravar should be a standard part of your lexicon, especially for writing essays or participating in debates. You should be familiar with its use in legal and medical contexts. You will often see the term agravante (aggravating factor). For instance, in a discussion about law, you might say, "El hecho de que hubiera premeditación es un agravante." You should also be able to use it in the conditional and subjunctive moods to discuss hypothetical worsenings: "Si el gobierno no interviene, la crisis se agravará." At this level, you can also compare it with synonyms like exacerbar or recrudecer. You understand that agravar implies a change in the 'gravity' or weight of a situation, making it a powerful tool for formal analysis and precise communication.

At the C1 level, you use agravar with precision, understanding its full range of collocations and its place in the formal register. You are expected to use it in complex sentence structures, perhaps using the passive voice or complex temporal relations: "Se teme que las medidas adoptadas no hagan sino agravar la ya maltrecha economía." You understand the subtle difference between agravar and exacerbar (the latter often implying a provocation of feelings or symptoms). You also recognize the historical and etymological connection to the Latin 'aggravare,' meaning to make heavy. Your use of the word is naturally integrated into professional reports, high-level academic writing, and sophisticated oral arguments, where you might use it to describe the cumulative effect of multiple negative factors on a single outcome.

As a C2 learner, you have a near-native grasp of agravar. You can use it in highly specialized fields, such as law, where you might discuss 'delitos agravados' (aggravated felonies) or 'circunstancias que agravan la responsabilidad criminal.' You are also aware of its use in literary contexts, where it might be used metaphorically to describe the deepening of a character's despair or the darkening of a plot. You can effortlessly switch between agravar, recrudecer, intensificar, and exacerbar, choosing the one that perfectly fits the rhythmic and semantic needs of your discourse. You might even use it in philosophical discussions about the 'agravamiento' of the human condition. At this stage, the word is not just a vocabulary item but a precision instrument for expressing the escalation of gravity in any conceivable context.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

agravar in 30 Seconds

Agravar means to make a bad situation or illness more serious or severe.
It is a formal verb, often used in medical, legal, and news contexts.
It is a regular -ar verb but is frequently used in its reflexive form, agravarse.
Unlike the English 'aggravate,' it does not mean to annoy or irritate people.

The Spanish verb agravar is a sophisticated yet essential term that primarily translates to "to aggravate" or "to make worse." While in English, the word "aggravate" is frequently used colloquially to mean "to annoy" or "to irritate," the Spanish agravar maintains a much stricter adherence to its etymological roots, focusing almost exclusively on the intensification of a negative state, condition, or situation. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually acts upon an object—such as a problem, a disease, or a legal sentence. Understanding this distinction is the first step toward mastery for English speakers who might be tempted to use it when they are simply frustrated with a friend.

Medical Context: In healthcare settings, physicians use this word to describe the worsening of symptoms or the progression of a pathology. If a patient fails to follow a treatment plan, the lack of care will inevitably agravar their health status.

El clima húmedo puede agravar los problemas respiratorios del paciente.

Beyond the physical, agravar is a staple in legal and journalistic Spanish. When a crime is committed under specific circumstances—such as premeditation or cruelty—these factors serve to agravar la pena (increase the sentence). In socio-political discourse, experts often warn that certain economic policies might agravar la crisis (worsen the crisis). It is a word that carries weight, seriousness, and a sense of downward escalation. It is rarely used for trivial matters; you wouldn't typically say you are "aggravating" a stubbed toe unless it leads to a major infection.

Legal and Formal Usage: In courtroom settings, 'circunstancias agravantes' refers to factors that increase the severity of a crime. This formal register is where the word truly shines, providing a precise term for escalation.

La falta de arrepentimiento del acusado terminó por agravar la sentencia final.

Furthermore, the reflexive form agravarse is incredibly common. This is used when a situation worsens on its own or as a result of external factors without a specific person performing the action. For example, "La situación se agravó" (The situation worsened). This reflexive use is vital for news reporting where the cause might be complex or systemic rather than individual. It allows the speaker to focus on the deteriorating state itself. This versatility makes it a high-frequency verb in professional, academic, and medical Spanish environments, distinguishing a mid-level learner from a beginner who might rely solely on the more generic empeorar.

Economic Context: Economists use 'agravar' to discuss inflation, unemployment, or debt. 'Las nuevas tarifas podrían agravar el déficit comercial' (The new tariffs could worsen the trade deficit).

La sequía prolongada ha venido a agravar la ya precaria situación de los agricultores.

No digas nada ahora, solo vas a agravar el conflicto con tu hermano.

Using agravar correctly requires an understanding of its transitive and reflexive natures. As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object—the thing that is being made worse. Syntactically, it follows the standard pattern of [Subject] + [Verb] + [Object]. For instance, "La lluvia (Subject) agravó (Verb) la inundación (Object)." Because it is an -ar verb, its conjugation is regular, following the patterns of hablar or cantar, which makes it relatively easy to integrate into your speech once you remember the meaning.

Transitive Usage: When someone or something actively makes a situation worse. 'Tus mentiras solo sirven para agravar el problema'.

El uso de químicos inadecuados puede agravar la erosión del suelo.

The reflexive form, agravarse, is arguably more common in daily news and medical reports. It functions similarly to the English "to worsen" or "to get worse." When a condition "se agrava," it suggests a process of deterioration. Grammatically, you must include the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) that matches the subject. For example: "Mi herida se agravó por la falta de limpieza" (My wound worsened due to lack of cleaning). Here, the wound is the subject, and the reflexive pronoun 'se' indicates the action is happening to the subject itself.

Reflexive Usage: Used when the situation itself deteriorates. 'La crisis política se agravó tras las protestas del lunes'.

Si no tomas la medicina, tu resfriado se va a agravar.

In terms of tense usage, agravar is frequently found in the preterite to describe a sudden worsening ("se agravó repentinamente") or in the present perfect to describe a worsening that has occurred up to the present moment ("se ha agravado"). In more formal writing, you might encounter the future or conditional when predicting the consequences of an action: "Esto agravaría las tensiones diplomáticas." This predictive use is common in political analysis and strategic planning. Mastering these structures allows you to discuss complex cause-and-effect relationships with precision.

Common Complements: Often paired with adverbs like 'considerablemente', 'notablemente', or 'peligrosamente' to indicate the degree of worsening.

La falta de suministros médicos terminó por agravar la situación en el hospital.

Cualquier retraso adicional podría agravar seriamente la crisis de transporte.

You are most likely to encounter agravar in formal or semi-formal contexts. It is a favorite of news anchors, journalists, and institutional spokespeople. When watching a Spanish news broadcast (like RTVE or CNN en Español), listen for it during segments on the economy, international conflicts, or public health. It provides a more serious tone than the colloquial "ponerse peor." For instance, a reporter might say, "Las tensiones en la frontera se han agravado en las últimas horas," which sounds more professional and urgent than saying they just got worse.

News Media: Used to describe escalating conflicts, deteriorating economic indicators, or environmental disasters.

Los analistas temen que la subida del petróleo pueda agravar la inflación.

In a medical setting, agravar is the standard term used by doctors when talking to families about a patient's condition. You might hear, "Su situación se agravó durante la noche," indicating a critical turn for the worse. It conveys a sense of clinical objectivity. Similarly, in legal dramas or real-life court cases, lawyers discuss "agravantes"—factors that make a crime more severe. If you are reading a Spanish novel, especially a thriller or a historical drama, the author will use agravar to build tension as the protagonist's problems pile up and become more dire.

Professional Environment: In business meetings, it is used to discuss risks. 'No queremos tomar decisiones que puedan agravar nuestra deuda'.

El médico me advirtió que fumar solo iba a agravar mi tos crónica.

Finally, while less common in very casual street slang, it is perfectly normal in educated daily conversation. If a friend is telling you about a complicated divorce or a difficult situation at work, they might use it to emphasize how a specific event made everything much more difficult. It's a word that bridges the gap between the everyday and the professional, making it a versatile tool for any B1-level student or above. Whether you're reading El País, watching a Netflix series like La Casa de Papel, or listening to a podcast about social issues, agravar will appear frequently as a marker of escalation and severity.

Environmental Discourse: Commonly heard in documentaries about climate change: 'El calentamiento global agrava los incendios forestales'.

La falta de comunicación entre los líderes solo sirvió para agravar el conflicto.

No quería preocuparte, pero los síntomas se han vuelto a agravar.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with agravar is treating it as a literal equivalent to the English "aggravate" in all its senses. In English, you might say, "My little brother is so aggravating!" meaning he is annoying you. In Spanish, you cannot say "Mi hermano es agravante" or "Mi hermano me agrava" to mean he is annoying. This is a classic false friend situation. In Spanish, agravar is strictly about making a situation more serious or severe, not about human irritation. For "annoy," you should use molestar, irritar, or fastidiar.

The 'Annoyance' Trap: Mistake: 'Ese ruido me agrava' (That noise aggravates/annoys me). Correct: 'Ese ruido me molesta'.

Incorrecto: Me agrava que llegues tarde. (Correcto: Me molesta que llegues tarde).

Another common error is forgetting the reflexive se when the situation is worsening on its own. English speakers often say "La situación agravó" (The situation aggravated), but in Spanish, if there is no direct object being worsened by the subject, you must use "La situación se agravó." Without the 'se', the sentence feels incomplete to a native speaker, as if the situation was aggravating something else but you didn't say what. It's like saying "The situation worsened the..." and stopping mid-sentence.

Confusion with 'Agregar': Because they look similar, some learners confuse 'agravar' with 'agregar' (to add). While 'agravar' adds to the severity, 'agregar' is for adding ingredients or information.

No confundas: Agregar sal a la sopa vs Agravar un problema.

Lastly, learners sometimes over-rely on agravar in casual settings where empeorar would be more natural. While not technically "wrong," saying "Se agravó el clima" while talking about a light rain getting slightly heavier sounds overly dramatic and academic. Use empeorar for minor, everyday changes and reserve agravar for when the consequences are truly serious or have a formal impact. Understanding the "weight" of your words is a key part of moving from B1 to B2 and C1 levels. Using agravar for a minor inconvenience can make you sound like you're reading from a legal textbook rather than chatting with a friend.

Preposition Errors: Sometimes learners try to use 'con' or 'por' incorrectly. Usually, you agravar 'algo' (direct object) or things agravarse 'debido a' or 'por' something.

Incorrecto: El estrés agravó con su salud. (Correcto: El estrés agravó su salud).

La falta de descanso puede agravar tu estado de ánimo.

While agravar is a powerful word, Spanish offers several synonyms that carry slightly different nuances. Knowing when to use which one will greatly enhance your fluency and precision. The most common alternative is empeorar. This is the general-purpose word for "to get worse." It can be used for everything from the weather to a bad mood to a complex political situation. If you are unsure which word to use, empeorar is almost always a safe bet, whereas agravar is more specialized for serious or formal contexts.

Agravar vs. Empeorar: Agravar: Focuses on the increase in gravity, seriousness, or legal/medical weight.
Empeorar: General worsening, applicable to quality, quantity, or state.

La situación económica empeoró (general) / La crisis se agravó (more serious/formal).

For even more intensity, you might use exacerbar. This word, like its English cognate "exacerbate," means to make a problem or a bad feeling even more sharp or bitter. It is often used with feelings like anger, pain, or social tensions. Another related term is recrudecer, which is specifically used when something that had subsided—like a war, a disease, or a cold spell—comes back with renewed force. For example, "La violencia se recrudeció en la capital" (Violence flared up again in the capital). This implies a cycle of worsening rather than a steady decline.

Agravar vs. Exacerbar: Agravar: Making a situation more serious.
Exacerbar: Irritating or provoking a stronger negative reaction or feeling.

Sus comentarios solo lograron exacerbar los ánimos de la multitud.

Finally, consider intensificar. While intensificar can be used for positive things (like intensifying your studies), when used in a negative context, it functions as a synonym for making a problem more acute. If you want to describe the worsening of a physical state without using the word "bad" or "serious," you might also use complicar (to complicate). Often, a medical condition that "se agrava" is one that has "complicaciones." Understanding these subtle differences allows you to choose the exact right shade of meaning for your conversation or writing.

Agravar vs. Recrudecer: Agravar: A steady increase in severity.
Recrudecer: To break out again with more intensity after a lull.

El frío se recrudeció durante la madrugada, agravando la salud de los sintecho.

No queremos complicar más las cosas; hablar ahora podría agravar el malentendido.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The word is a direct relative of 'gravity' (gravedad). In the Middle Ages, it was used to describe making a physical load heavier before it shifted to its current metaphorical meaning of making problems 'heavier'.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /a.ɣɾaˈβaɾ/

US /a.ɣɾaˈβaɾ/

The stress is on the final syllable: a-gra-VAR.

Rhymes With

hablar cantar mirar llegar pescar altar lugar mar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'v' like an English 'v' (biting the lip). In Spanish, it's bilabial.
Stressing the second-to-last syllable (a-GRA-var).
Using an English 'r' at the end.
Pronouncing the 'g' too harshly like in 'goat'.
Confusing it with 'aggravate' and trying to put an 'ate' sound at the end.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Common in newspapers and books, easily recognizable due to the English cognate.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of reflexive usage and correct context (avoiding the 'annoy' meaning).

Speaking 4/5

Natural use requires a good grasp of formal vs. informal register.

Listening 3/5

Clearly pronounced, usually found in serious news or medical discussions.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

malo peor grave problema situación

Learn Next

exacerbar recrudecer atenuar mitigar paliar

Advanced

agravante atenuante concurrencia exasperar incidir

Grammar to Know

Reflexive Pronoun Placement

La situación SE agravó (before conjugated verb) o Va a agravarSE (attached to infinitive).

Regular -ar Verb Conjugation

Yo agravo, tú agravas, él agrava, nosotros agravamos, vosotros agraváis, ellos agravan.

Subjunctive with Emotions/Doubt

Temo que la crisis SE AGRAVE.

Passive 'Se'

SE AGRAVARON las penas para este tipo de delitos.

Preterite vs Imperfect

La herida SE AGRAVÓ ayer (specific event) vs La situación SE AGRAVABA cada día (ongoing process).

Examples by Level

No quiero agravar el problema.

I don't want to make the problem worse.

Infinitive form after 'querer'.

El frío puede agravar tu tos.

The cold can make your cough worse.

Modal verb 'puede' + infinitive.

La lluvia va a agravar el tráfico.

The rain is going to make the traffic worse.

Future with 'ir a'.

No hables, vas a agravar las cosas.

Don't talk, you're going to make things worse.

Negative imperative 'no hables'.

Ese ruido agrava mi dolor de cabeza.

That noise makes my headache worse.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Comer mucho dulce puede agravar tu salud.

Eating many sweets can worsen your health.

Infinitive used as a subject.

La falta de agua agrava la situación.

The lack of water makes the situation worse.

Noun phrase as subject.

Si no descansas, tu herida se va a agravar.

If you don't rest, your wound is going to get worse.

Reflexive 'se' used with 'va a'.

El médico dice que el humo agrava el asma.

The doctor says smoke worsens asthma.

Reported speech 'dice que'.

La crisis se agravó el mes pasado.

The crisis worsened last month.

Preterite tense, reflexive.

Tus palabras solo sirven para agravar la pelea.

Your words only serve to worsen the fight.

Phrase 'servir para' + infinitive.

El mal tiempo ha agravado el estado de las carreteras.

The bad weather has worsened the state of the roads.

Present perfect tense.

Espero que no se agrave tu enfermedad.

I hope your illness doesn't get worse.

Present subjunctive 'se agrave'.

La falta de dinero agrava sus preocupaciones.

The lack of money worsens their worries.

Plural direct object.

Caminar mucho puede agravar la lesión del pie.

Walking a lot can worsen the foot injury.

Compound subject 'caminar mucho'.

La situación se está agravando por momentos.

The situation is getting worse by the moment.

Present continuous with reflexive.

Si sigues gritando, solo vas a agravar la situación familiar.

If you keep shouting, you're only going to worsen the family situation.

Conditional 'si' clause + future.

El paciente se agravó de repente durante la noche.

The patient's condition worsened suddenly during the night.

Preterite reflexive with adverbial phrase.

La escasez de alimentos ha venido a agravar la pobreza en la región.

The food shortage has come to worsen the poverty in the region.

Periphrasis 'ha venido a' + infinitive.

No deberías tomar ese medicamento, podría agravar tus síntomas.

You shouldn't take 그 medicine, it could worsen your symptoms.

Conditional 'podría' for possibility.

El juez consideró que la premeditación agravaba el delito.

The judge considered that premeditation worsened the crime.

Imperfect tense for descriptive background in the past.

La contaminación agrava los efectos del cambio climático.

Pollution worsens the effects of climate change.

Subject-verb-object structure.

Es una pena que su relación se haya agravado tanto.

It's a shame their relationship has worsened so much.

Present perfect subjunctive after 'es una pena que'.

Debemos actuar ahora para no agravar la deuda externa.

We must act now so as not to worsen the external debt.

Negative infinitive 'para no agravar'.

Las medidas de austeridad no hicieron más que agravar la recesión.

The austerity measures did nothing but worsen the recession.

Idiomatic expression 'no hacer más que'.

Cualquier error en este momento agravaría las tensiones diplomáticas.

Any error at this moment would worsen diplomatic tensions.

Conditional mood for hypothetical scenarios.

La falta de inversión en infraestructuras está agravando el problema del transporte.

The lack of investment in infrastructure is worsening the transport problem.

Present continuous 'está agravando'.

Se agravó la herida al no recibir los cuidados necesarios a tiempo.

The wound worsened due to not receiving the necessary care on time.

Passive 'se' construction.

El uso excesivo de fertilizantes puede agravar la calidad del agua subterránea.

Excessive use of fertilizers can worsen the quality of groundwater.

Modal 'puede' indicating potentiality.

Dudo que esta nueva ley agrave la situación de los trabajadores.

I doubt this new law will worsen the workers' situation.

Present subjunctive after 'dudo que'.

La discriminación solo contribuye a agravar las desigualdades sociales.

Discrimination only contributes to worsening social inequalities.

Verb 'contribuir a' + infinitive.

Al agravarse la tormenta, tuvimos que buscar refugio inmediatamente.

As the storm worsened, we had to find shelter immediately.

Infinitive construction 'al' + infinitive + reflexive.

La inacción de las autoridades no ha hecho sino agravar el descontento popular.

The authorities' inaction has done nothing but worsen popular discontent.

Formal structure 'no ha hecho sino'.

Factores endógenos y exógenos se conjugaron para agravar la crisis institucional.

Endogenous and exogenous factors combined to worsen the institutional crisis.

Formal vocabulary (endógenos/exógenos).

Es imperativo evitar cualquier acción que pueda agravar la volatilidad de los mercados.

It is imperative to avoid any action that could worsen market volatility.

Subjunctive 'pueda' in a relative clause.

La persistencia de los síntomas sugiere que la patología podría haberse agravado.

The persistence of symptoms suggests the pathology could have worsened.

Compound conditional reflexive 'podría haberse agravado'.

El sesgo cognitivo del investigador terminó por agravar los errores del estudio.

The researcher's cognitive bias ended up worsening the study's errors.

Periphrasis 'terminó por' + infinitive.

Sin una reforma estructural, el déficit no dejará de agravarse en los próximos años.

Without structural reform, the deficit will not stop worsening in the coming years.

Future tense 'no dejará de' + reflexive infinitive.

La retórica incendiaria del candidato solo sirvió para agravar la polarización política.

The candidate's inflammatory rhetoric only served to worsen political polarization.

Adjective 'incendiaria' adding nuance.

Cualquier intento de ocultar la verdad no hará más que agravar las consecuencias legales.

Any attempt to hide the truth will only worsen the legal consequences.

Future 'hará más que' construction.

La concurrencia de circunstancias atenuantes y agravantes determinará la cuantía de la pena.

The concurrence of mitigating and aggravating circumstances will determine the amount of the sentence.

Legal terminology 'atenuantes y agravantes'.

Resulta paradójico que el remedio propuesto haya acabado por agravar el mal que pretendía curar.

It is paradoxical that the proposed remedy ended up worsening the evil it intended to cure.

Subjunctive 'haya acabado' after 'resulta paradójico que'.

La erosión del suelo se ve agravada por la deforestación indiscriminada en las cuencas altas.

Soil erosion is worsened by indiscriminate deforestation in the upper basins.

Passive voice 'se ve agravada'.

No es de extrañar que la desidia administrativa haya agravado la vulnerabilidad de la población.

It is no wonder that administrative negligence has worsened the population's vulnerability.

Formal expression 'no es de extrañar que'.

La dialéctica de la confrontación no hace sino agravar las brechas sociales ya existentes.

The dialectic of confrontation does nothing but worsen the already existing social gaps.

Abstract philosophical subject.

Se especula con que la falta de liquidez agrave la insolvencia de la entidad bancaria.

There is speculation that the lack of liquidity will worsen the bank's insolvency.

Subjunctive 'agrave' used with speculation.

La interconexión de los mercados globales puede agravar el efecto contagio de una crisis local.

The interconnection of global markets can worsen the contagion effect of a local crisis.

Complex noun phrase 'efecto contagio'.

El encono de las partes en conflicto parece agravarse con cada intento fallido de mediación.

The animosity of the parties in conflict seems to worsen with every failed mediation attempt.

Reflexive infinitive with 'parece'.

Common Collocations

agravar la situación

agravar el problema

agravar la enfermedad

agravar los síntomas

agravar la pena

agravar la crisis

agravar el conflicto

agravar la herida

agravar la tensión

agravar el déficit

Common Phrases

venir a agravar

— To come along and make a situation even worse than it was.

La sequía ha venido a agravar la falta de alimentos.

lejos de mejorar, agravar

— Instead of getting better, it makes things worse.

La nueva ley, lejos de mejorar las cosas, las agravó.

sin ánimo de agravar

— Without intending to make things worse (often said before a difficult truth).

Sin ánimo de agravar tu estado, debo decirte la verdad.

tender a agravarse

— To have a tendency to get worse.

Estos problemas tienden a agravarse con el tiempo.

contribuir a agravar

— To play a part in making something worse.

El viento contribuyó a agravar el incendio.

no hacer sino agravar

— To do nothing but make things worse.

Tu silencio no hace sino agravar mis dudas.

riesgo de agravarse

— Risk of getting worse.

Existe el riesgo de que la infección se agrave.

circunstancias que agravan

— Factors that make a situation more serious.

Hay varias circunstancias que agravan su culpabilidad.

agravar considerablemente

— To make something significantly worse.

El accidente agravó considerablemente su salud.

terminar por agravar

— To end up making something worse.

La lluvia terminó por agravar las inundaciones.

Often Confused With

agravar vs aggravate (English)

English 'aggravate' often means 'to annoy', but Spanish 'agravar' NEVER means 'to annoy'.

agravar vs agregar

Means 'to add' (like ingredients). 'Agravar' is only for worsening situations.

agravar vs agraviar

Means 'to offend' or 'to wrong' a person. 'Agravar' is for situations or conditions.

Idioms & Expressions

"Echar leña al fuego"

— To make a bad situation worse by adding more conflict (similar to 'agravar el conflicto').

No le digas eso, solo vas a echar leña al fuego.

informal

"Llover sobre mojado"

— When something bad happens on top of an already bad situation (often used when things 'se agravan').

Perdí el trabajo y ahora se rompió el coche; llueve sobre mojado.

neutral

"Salir de Guatemala para entrar en Guatepeor"

— To go from a bad situation to a worse one.

Cambié de jefe pero este es más estricto; salí de Guatemala para entrar en Guatepeor.

informal

"Poner el dedo en la llaga"

— To touch upon a sensitive spot, often worsening the emotional pain.

Sus críticas pusieron el dedo en la llaga.

neutral

"Remover la herida"

— To bring up a painful past event, making the current emotional state worse.

No quiero remover la herida hablando de mi ex.

neutral

"Ser peor el remedio que la enfermedad"

— When the solution makes the problem worse (agrava el problema).

Esa medicina me dio alergia; fue peor el remedio que la enfermedad.

neutral

"Cavar su propia tumba"

— To do something that will eventually make one's own situation much worse.

Si sigue mintiendo, está cavando su propia tumba.

informal

"Darle otra vuelta de tuerca"

— To add more pressure or intensity to a situation.

La nueva política le dio otra vuelta de tuerca a la crisis.

neutral

"Echar sal en la herida"

— To make someone's pain or difficult situation even worse.

No me recuerdes mis errores, no eches sal en la herida.

informal

"Meterse en un berenjenal"

— To get into a very complicated and worsening mess.

Al aceptar ese trato, se metió en un berenjenal.

informal

Easily Confused

agravar vs agravar

Looks like English 'aggravate'.

In Spanish, it only means making a situation more serious. In English, it also means to annoy a person.

La crisis se agravó (The crisis worsened). Correct. Mi hermano me agrava (My brother aggravates/annoys me). INCORRECT in Spanish.

agravar vs agregar

Similar spelling and sound.

Agregar is to add something to a total or a mix. Agravar is to make a negative situation more severe.

Agregué sal (I added salt). Agravé el problema (I made the problem worse).

agravar vs agraviar

Shared root 'grave'.

Agraviar is to cause an 'agravio' (an offense or injustice) to a person. Agravar is to worsen a state.

Se sintió agraviado por el insulto (He felt wronged by the insult).

agravar vs empeorar

They are synonyms.

Empeorar is general. Agravar is more formal and emphasizes the 'gravity' or seriousness of the worsening.

El clima empeoró. La crisis se agravó.

agravar vs agarrar

Phonetic similarity for beginners.

Agarrar means 'to grab' or 'to catch'. Agravar means 'to worsen'.

Agarré el paraguas (I grabbed the umbrella).

Sentence Patterns

[Sujeto] agrava [Objeto]

La lluvia agrava el tráfico.

[Sujeto] se agrava

Su salud se agravó.

Va a agravar [Objeto]

Eso va a agravar el problema.

No hacer sino agravar [Objeto]

Sus palabras no hacen sino agravar la situación.

Al agravarse [Sujeto]

Al agravarse la crisis, la gente salió a la calle.

[Sujeto] podría haberse agravado

La situación podría haberse agravado sin tu ayuda.

Lejos de mejorar, [Sujeto] agrava...

Lejos de mejorar, la medicina agravó su estado.

Circunstancia que agrava...

Es una circunstancia que agrava la culpabilidad.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in written media and formal speech; moderate in daily casual speech.

Common Mistakes

Me agrava tu actitud. → Me molesta tu actitud.
You cannot use 'agravar' to mean 'to annoy'. It only means to make a situation more serious.
La situación agravó ayer. → La situación se agravó ayer.
Without a direct object, the verb must be reflexive to indicate the situation itself got worse.
No quiero agregar el problema. → No quiero agravar el problema.
Confusion between 'agregar' (to add) and 'agravar' (to worsen).
El estrés agrava a su salud. → El estrés agrava su salud.
Do not use the preposition 'a' before a non-person direct object. 'Salud' is the object, so no 'a' is needed.
Es un circunstancia agraviante. → Es una circunstancia agravante.
In legal terms, use 'agravante' for worsening factors. 'Agraviante' means offensive or insulting.

Tips

Think of Gravity

The root of 'agravar' is 'grave' (serious). Whenever you want to say a problem is becoming more 'grave', use 'agravar'. This helps you remember it's for serious situations.

The Reflexive 'Se'

If there is no direct object, you probably need 'se'. 'La situación agravó' sounds wrong; 'La situación se agravó' is perfect. It's like 'The situation worsened itself'.

Medical Accuracy

In a hospital setting, 'agravar' is the professional word to use. It sounds much more precise and objective than 'ponerse peor'.

Not for Annoyance

Never use 'agravar' to translate 'You are aggravating me'. Use 'Me estás molestando'. Using 'agravar' here will confuse native speakers.

Adverb Pairing

To sound like a C1 speaker, pair 'agravar' with 'seriamente' or 'notablemente'. 'Esto agrava seriamente el problema'.

Agravante

If you are learning legal Spanish, 'agravante' is a high-frequency noun you must know. It's the opposite of 'atenuante' (mitigating factor).

Stress the End

Spanish infinitives like 'agravar' always stress the last syllable. Make sure you don't say 'a-GRA-var'.

News Keywords

When listening to news about the economy, 'agravar' is a 'trigger word' that tells you the reporter is about to describe a worsening trend.

Variety is Key

Don't over-use 'agravar'. If the situation is minor (like a slightly burnt toast), just use 'empeorar'. Save 'agravar' for the big stuff.

A + Grave

A (to) + Grave (serious). You are taking a situation TO a GRAVE state. This simple breakdown makes it impossible to forget.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the word 'GRAVE'. If you 'agravar' a situation, you are making it more 'grave' (serious). It's like adding weight to a 'grave' situation.

Visual Association

Imagine a scale. On one side is a problem. When you 'agravar' it, you drop a heavy iron weight onto that side, making it sink lower and becoming more serious.

Word Web

Grave Gravedad Gravemente Agravante Empeorar Crisis Enfermedad Problema

Challenge

Try to write three sentences today about a news story you read, using 'agravar' in the preterite, present, and future tenses.

Word Origin

Derived from the Latin 'aggravare', which is formed from the prefix 'ad-' (towards) and the verb 'gravare' (to burden, to make heavy).

Original meaning: The literal Latin meaning is 'to make heavier'.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'agravar' regarding someone's health; it implies a very serious turn for the worse.

English speakers often use 'aggravate' to mean 'annoy'. Spanish speakers do NOT use 'agravar' this way. This is a common point of confusion in translations.

Used frequently in 'El Quijote' to describe the worsening of the protagonist's delusions. A common term in Spanish-language legal dramas like 'Ana Tramel. El juego'. Found in medical reports throughout history, including those during the 1918 flu pandemic.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Medical

El estado se agravó
Agravar los síntomas
Agravar la lesión
Agravar el cuadro clínico

Legal

Circunstancias agravantes
Agravar la pena
Delito agravado
Agravar la responsabilidad

Economic

Agravar la crisis
Agravar el déficit
Agravar la inflación
Agravar la deuda

Social/Personal

Agravar el conflicto
Agravar la discusión
Agravar el malentendido
Agravar la tensión

Environmental

Agravar la sequía
Agravar la erosión
Agravar el calentamiento
Agravar el daño

Conversation Starters

"¿Crees que el cambio climático va a agravar las tormentas este año?"

"¿Qué factores pueden agravar el estrés en el trabajo?"

"¿Piensas que las redes sociales pueden agravar la soledad de las personas?"

"¿Cómo podemos evitar agravar un conflicto familiar durante las vacaciones?"

"¿Crees que la falta de sueño agrava tu capacidad para aprender español?"

Journal Prompts

Escribe sobre una situación que se agravó por no tomar una decisión a tiempo.

¿Cómo crees que la tecnología podría agravar o mejorar la brecha educativa en el futuro?

Describe un momento en el que intentaste ayudar pero terminaste por agravar el problema.

Analiza cómo el estrés puede agravar la salud física según tu propia experiencia.

Reflexiona sobre las 'circunstancias agravantes' que hacen que una mentira sea más difícil de perdonar.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No. In Spanish, 'agravar' is only used for situations, problems, or illnesses. If someone is annoying you, use 'molestar', 'irritar', or 'fastidiar'. For example, 'Me molesta mi hermano', not 'Me agrava mi hermano'.

They are very similar, but 'empeorar' is more common in everyday, casual speech. 'Agravar' is more formal and used when the situation is serious, like in medical or legal contexts. You can 'empeorar' a cake by adding too much salt, but you 'agravar' a national crisis.

Yes, it is a completely regular -ar verb. It follows the same conjugation patterns as 'hablar' or 'cantar' in all tenses. The complexity comes from its reflexive use ('agravarse') rather than its conjugation.

Use 'agravarse' when the situation is worsening on its own or when you want to focus on the change of state rather than the person causing it. Example: 'La tormenta se agravó' (The storm got worse).

An 'agravante' (aggravating circumstance) is a factor that makes a crime more serious in the eyes of the law, such as committing a crime at night or with extreme cruelty, which usually leads to a harsher sentence.

Yes, it is a standard Spanish word used across all regions, from Spain to Argentina and Mexico, particularly in formal news, medicine, and law.

No. 'Agravar' is strictly for negative things. You cannot 'agravar' your happiness or your skills. It always implies that something bad is becoming more serious or severe.

The most common nouns are 'agravamiento' (the process of getting worse) and 'gravedad' (the state of being serious).

You can say 'agravar la herida'. For example: 'No te rasques, podrías agravar la herida'.

Not necessarily 'better', just different. 'Exacerbar' is more formal and often used for the intensification of feelings, pain, or irritations, while 'agravar' is more about the general seriousness of a situation.