aggravation
Americannoun
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an increase in intensity, seriousness, or severity; act of making worse.
an aggravation of pain.
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the state of being aggravated. aggravated.
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something that causes an increase in intensity, degree, or severity.
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annoyance; exasperation.
Johnny causes me so much aggravation!
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a source or cause of annoyance or exasperation.
Johnny's such an aggravation to her!
Usage
See aggravate.
Other Word Forms
- overaggravation noun
- preaggravation noun
- superaggravation noun
Etymology
Origin of aggravation
1475–85; < Medieval Latin aggravātiōn- (stem of aggravātiō ); aggravate, -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That agreement expired last week, opening the door for further aggravation from the two investors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026
Goals, aggravation, a red card that infuriated the visitors and opened a door for the hosts, a toe-to-toe fight that went to the wire.
From BBC • Jan. 25, 2026
You can commit to an overly ambitious project that may have caused conflict, struggle and aggravation, but in retrospect, will be fondly remembered as an epic creation that evoked happiness while overcoming adversity.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2024
They are variously seeking damages for lost money, wasted time, and "stress, aggravation, frustration, loss of trust, loss of serenity, and loss of confidence in product labeling."
From Salon • May 21, 2024
She is quieter than usual, with an air of injured aggravation.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
