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.
To do that you have to put up with the aggravation, the late-night calls or the dumb questions.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2025
“The risk of reinjury or aggravation is higher during the initial phase, when movement is being reintroduced.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2025
Denver’s opening half was filled with missed shots and aggravation.
From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024
The rises would cause "loads of aggravation" for borrowers and brokers, Mr Moy said.
From BBC • Apr. 22, 2024
Positional notation symbols take the aggravation out of arithmetic.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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.
