aggravating their situation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "aggravating their situation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing actions or events that worsen someone's circumstances or problems. Example: "The unexpected storm was aggravating their situation, making it difficult for them to reach safety."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nevertheless, the impact of these events had a formative effect on her personality: while her father, a traveling salesman, had never provided much financial stability to the family, his exit aggravated their situation.

Wikipedia

These populations suffer extreme poverty and recent food price hikes have aggravated their situation.

Unicef

It was despair, she explained, that prompted her to talk with a reporter, She and other wives of prisoners had refused to speak of their problems for fear of aggravating their hus bands' situation.

The New York Times

My movie is about five different people who are caught up in a tragic situation which aggravates their differences.

Los Angeles Times

A police helicopter hovered above, but the officers eventually decided not to risk aggravating the situation any more, and they kept their distance.

Vice

"The current political and economic situation risks aggravating the nutritional situation of children in Kirundo province even more," says John Ntambi, UNICEF Burundi Nutrition Specialist.

Unicef

Turkey has acted irresponsibly, aggravating the situation in Syria.

The New York Times

But Mr. Willard was aggravating the situation, he said, by hanging the deer.

The New York Times

Russia has joined Turkey in accusing the United States of encouraging the Kurds and aggravating the situation in Syria.

The New York Times

In addition, the short-sellers are aggravating the situation.

Forbes

And they have allowed colleges to raise tuition, aggravating the situation.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "aggravating their situation", ensure the context clearly indicates what the existing situation is and how it is being worsened.

Common error

Avoid using "aggravating their situation" when the situation is already at its worst possible point; instead, describe it as maintaining or continuing the dire circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "aggravating their situation" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a present participle phrase, indicating an ongoing action that is worsening someone's circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

17%

Science

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "aggravating their situation" is a grammatically correct expression used to describe actions or events that worsen existing problems. While relatively rare in occurrence, it appears across various contexts, including news, business, and science. According to Ludwig AI, it’s a usable phrase in written English. Related phrases include "worsening their circumstances" and "exacerbating their plight". When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly defines the situation being worsened.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making their situation worse

A simpler and more direct alternative.

making things even harder for them

A straightforward way of expressing the idea of worsening their situation.

worsening their circumstances

Emphasizes the act of making their circumstances worse.

exacerbating their plight

A more formal and intense way of saying making their difficult situation worse.

heightening their difficulties

Focuses on increasing the intensity of their existing difficulties.

compounding their problems

Highlights the addition of new problems to existing ones.

intensifying their crisis

Implies that a crisis is becoming more severe.

inflaming their predicament

Suggests a dramatic worsening of their already precarious position.

further complicating matters for them

Indicates an increase in the complexity of their situation.

adding fuel to the fire for them

An idiomatic expression meaning making a bad situation even worse.

FAQs

What does "aggravating their situation" mean?

It means making an already difficult or problematic situation even worse. It implies that something is adding to or intensifying existing troubles.

How can I use "aggravating their situation" in a sentence?

For example, "The recent policy changes are "aggravating their situation", making it harder for them to recover from the economic downturn."

What are some alternatives to "aggravating their situation"?

You can use alternatives like "worsening their circumstances", "exacerbating their plight", or "compounding their problems depending on the context".

Is "aggravating their situation" formal or informal?

It is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "exacerbating their plight" may be preferred in certain settings.