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.
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
Redick said it was an aggravation of a previous injury suffered last week.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 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
But there was a way to avoid such aggravation: He could simply abandon the Datsun and resume his odyssey on foot.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
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.
