French word

aggraver

Pronunciation

IPA/agʁave/

Meaning

  • verbworsen

Example

Cette décision va aggraver le problème.

This decision will worsen the problem.

Illustration for aggraver (worsen)

More examples

La pollution peut aggraver les symptômes respiratoires.

Air pollution can worsen respiratory symptoms.

Core concept

A problem carrying a heavier burden, with its effects becoming more serious.

Common phrases

  • aggraver la situation

    worsen the situation

  • aggraver un problème

    worsen a problem

  • aggraver la douleur

    worsen the pain

Similar words

empirer: To become increasingly bad or severe.
s'aggraver: To deteriorate on its own, especially of symptoms or circumstances.
détériorer: To impair an object's condition, health, or a relationship.
dégrader: To make something poorer in quality or condition.

Definition in French

Augmenter la sévérité ou l'intensité d'un problème ou d'une situation, la rendre plus sérieuse.

Word origin

French aggraver comes from Latin aggravare, formed from ad- and gravare, a verb based on gravis, meaning 'heavy'; the idea developed from making heavy to making a problem worse.

Usage tips

  • French aggraver is transitive, as in aggraver le problème, while the worsening of the problem itself is expressed with s'aggraver.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word