One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Synonyms of aggravate in English:
aggravate
See definition of aggravate
verb
1‘according to some, the new law will aggravate the situation’
worsen, make worse, exacerbate, inflame, compound
intensify, increase, heighten, magnify, add to, amplify, augment
add fuel to the fire, add fuel to the flames, add insult to injury, rub salt in the wound
alleviate, improve
2‘you don't have to aggravate people to get what you want’
annoy, irritate, exasperate, anger, irk, vex, put out, nettle, provoke, incense, rile, infuriate, antagonize, get on someone's nerves, rub up the wrong way, make someone's blood boil, ruffle someone's feathers, ruffle, try someone's patience, make someone's hackles rise
offend, pique
rankle
peeve, needle, make someone see red, get someone's back up, get someone's goat, get under someone's skin, get up someone's nose, bug, get someone, miff, hack off
British wind up, get at, nark, get across, get on someone's wick
North American tick off, bum out
vulgar slang piss off
calm, conciliate