Agravarles

Agravarles is a Spanish infinitive form built from the verb agravar plus the indirect object pronoun les. It functions as the verb phrase to indicate that someone or a group experiences a worsening of their situation as a result of an action. It is not a separate word with its own lexical meaning, but a combination used in contexts where the speaker wants to express that the subject worsens conditions for others.

Usage and meaning: The core meaning is to worsen or aggravate the circumstances of others. It is common in political, social, and legal discourse, especially when describing policies, decisions, or events that negatively affect a group. Typical direct objects in agravarles constructions include la situación, las condiciones, la economía, or la carga fiscal.

Grammar and forms: Agravarles can appear in constructions with a conjugated auxiliary verb or after verbs such as es necesario, es importante, puede, podrían, etc. Examples: Es necesario agravarles la situación. Las medidas podrían agravarles la economía. When a direct object is present and pronouns attach to the infinitive, forms like agravárselas may occur, e.g., No quiero agravarles las deudas, or, in the fused form, No quiero agravárselas.

Synonyms and contrasts: A close synonym is empeorar, though agravarles emphasizes intentional worsening by an external action. The term remains neutral in tone, suitable for descriptive or analytical writing.

See also: Spanish clitic pronouns, verbs with two-object pronouns, grammar of infinitives in Spanish.