v. 25B6; verb
the new law could aggravate the situation : WORSEN, make worse, exacerbate, inflame, compound; add fuel to the fire/flames, add insult to injury, rub salt in the wound.
(informal) you don't have to aggravate people to get what you want : ANNOY, irritate, exasperate, put out, nettle, provoke, antagonize, get on someone's nerves, ruffle (someone's feathers), try someone's patience; Brit. rub up the wrong way; informal peeve, needle, bug, miff, hack off, get someone's goat, get under someone's skin, get up someone's nose; Brit. informal wind up, nark, get at, get across, get on someone's wick; N. Amer. informal tick off.
alleviate, improve.