continues to aggravate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "continues to aggravate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing situation or action that is causing annoyance or irritation. Example: "The constant noise from the construction site continues to aggravate the residents living nearby."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's a sensibility reflected in debates about affirmative action, which continues to aggravate tensions between blacks and Jews.

The New York Times

BEIRUT — As the 20-month-long conflict in Syria continues to aggravate the frictions between Sunni and Shiite Muslim groups in Lebanon, other sectarian groups, and notably the country's Christian and Druze minorities, are trying to distance themselves from the rising tensions.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Progressive Inequality cuts against the grain of this popular consensus, demonstrating how income inequality's growth prior to the stock market crash of 1929 continued to aggravate class divisions.

Harvard University

Existing trees will continue to aggravate allergies.

Los Angeles Times

My neck continued to aggravate me as another fever flared.

Huffington Post

It can result in a new dream for South Africans or continue to aggravate the country's disenchanted population.

Vice

This is a particular concern for South Asian countries as unbalanced growth of urban areas and poor urban planning continue to aggravate the problem.

F1000Research

Toothpastes or mouthwashes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate can cause canker sores and continue to aggravate them.

WikiHow

PPARC decided to increase its student numbers by 50% between 2003-2007, a decision that probably has aggravated--and likely will continue to aggravate--an already difficult job market.

Science Magazine

Though air quality has improved across the county, the report states that asthma-related emergency room visits increased between 2010 and 2015 due to air pollution, and the health impacts of smog will only continue to be aggravated by climate change.

Los Angeles Times

These projections suggested that world agricultural trade was not likely to grow very rapidly if the difficulties facing agriculture continued to be aggravated by current protectionist policies and if no action was taken to reverse current trends.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "continues to aggravate", ensure that the context clearly establishes what is being aggravated and what is causing it. This adds clarity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

While "continues to aggravate" is grammatically correct, avoid using it excessively in informal writing. Opt for simpler alternatives like "keeps making worse" or "still bothers" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "continues to aggravate" functions as a verb phrase indicating an ongoing action that worsens a situation. It builds upon the basic verb "aggravate" by adding the auxiliary verb "continues", emphasizing the persistence of the aggravating action. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "continues to aggravate" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe an ongoing action that worsens a situation. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. While not overly common, it effectively conveys the persistent negative impact of an action. Be mindful to use it where you want to emphasize the ongoing nature of the aggravation, opting for simpler alternatives in informal settings. Common synonyms include "keeps exacerbating" and "persistently worsens". Remember to clearly define both the cause and the subject being aggravated for maximum clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

repeatedly aggravates

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the aggravation.

keeps exacerbating

This alternative highlights the persistent nature of making something worse, similar to the original phrase.

persistently worsens

This emphasizes the ongoing and deteriorating effect, aligning with the meaning of "continues to aggravate".

exacerbates relentlessly

This alternative stresses the continuous and unforgiving nature of worsening a situation.

consistently intensifies

This suggests a steady increase in the severity of a situation, akin to aggravating it continuously.

continually compounds

This phrase indicates an ongoing accumulation of negative effects, similar to the worsening effect of the original phrase.

never ceases to irritate

Focuses on the unending nature of causing annoyance.

unremittingly inflames

Implies a constant and intense aggravation, similar to the original phrase.

regularly heightens

Highlights the recurring increase in intensity, much like continuously aggravating something.

further complicates

Adds the dimension of making something more intricate and problematic.

FAQs

How can I use "continues to aggravate" in a sentence?

Use "continues to aggravate" to describe an ongoing action or situation that worsens a condition. For example, "The lack of rain continues to aggravate the drought conditions."

What are some alternatives to "continues to aggravate"?

You can use alternatives like "keeps exacerbating", "persistently worsens", or "continually compounds" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. See more at "keeps exacerbating".

Is "continues to aggravate" formal or informal?

"Continues to aggravate" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts. In very informal settings, simpler alternatives might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "continues to aggravate" and "aggravates"?

"Aggravates" describes a single instance of worsening something, while "continues to aggravate" implies an ongoing or repetitive action that keeps worsening the situation.