aggravate the situation

USAGE SUMMARY

"aggravate the situation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that a particular action or event makes a situation worse or more difficult to resolve. For example, "The teacher's ultimatum to the class only served to aggravate the situation and further divide the students."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

You can aggravate the situation".

The New York Times

Economic pressures aggravate the situation.

The New York Times

Such outbursts only aggravate the situation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Why did they aggravate the situation?

The Guardian - Opinion

"The only thing this will do is aggravate the situation.

The Guardian - Arts

If anything, he said, it would aggravate the situation.

The New York Times

Rarely do other factors intrude and aggravate the situation.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The reaction from markets may aggravate the situation.

The New York Times

North Carolina's new policy, which had the potential to lure students away from Virginia, could aggravate the situation.

The New York Times

"Then they can aggravate the situation and say the government of Mr. Khatami is not capable of running the country".

The New York Times

He fears the rise of offshore call centres, out of reach of the regulators, will aggravate the situation.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aggravate the situation" when you want to emphasize that a specific action or factor makes an existing problem worse. For example, "Ignoring the warning signs will only aggravate the situation."

Common error

Avoid using "aggravate the situation" when you simply mean to 'start' a problem. "Aggravate" implies an existing issue that is being made worse. For example, don't say "His comment aggravated the situation" if there was no tension beforehand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aggravate the situation" functions as a verb phrase indicating an action that intensifies or worsens a pre-existing negative condition. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples across varied sources demonstrating this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

32%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Science & Research

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "aggravate the situation" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase for describing actions that worsen an existing problem. As Ludwig AI confirms, it appears frequently across various sources, including news, scientific publications, and general discussions. While it maintains a neutral register, it's crucial to understand its nuance: "aggravate" implies an existing problem, not the creation of one. Related alternatives like "worsen the situation" or inflame the situation offer subtle variations in meaning, allowing for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Worsen the situation

Direct synonym; implies making the situation worse.

Inflame the situation

Implies adding emotional intensity and conflict.

Exacerbate the situation

More formal; suggests making an already bad situation even worse.

Intensify the situation

Focuses on increasing the strength or severity of the situation.

Escalate the situation

Suggests a rapid increase in intensity, often implying conflict.

Complicate the situation

Implies making the situation more complex and difficult to resolve.

Heighten the tension

Specifically refers to increasing the level of stress and anxiety.

Compound the problem

Indicates adding another problem to an existing one, making it worse.

Fuel the fire

Idiomatic expression meaning to make a bad situation worse.

Pour oil on the flames

Similar to "fuel the fire"; emphasizes intensifying a conflict.

FAQs

How can I use "aggravate the situation" in a sentence?

You can use "aggravate the situation" to describe actions or events that worsen an already problematic scenario. For example: "Further delays will only "aggravate the situation"."

What's a less formal way to say "aggravate the situation"?

Less formal alternatives include "worsen the situation" or "make matters worse". The choice depends on the specific context and audience.

Is it better to "aggravate" or "exacerbate" the situation?

"Exacerbate" is a more formal synonym for "aggravate". Both imply making a situation worse, but "exacerbate" is often used in medical or technical contexts, while "aggravate" is more general.

What is the difference between "aggravate the situation" and "inflame the situation"?

"Aggravate the situation" generally means to make a problem worse, while "inflame the situation" implies adding emotional intensity or conflict to an already tense situation.