aggravation

American  

[ag-ruh-vey-shuhn] / ˌæg rəˈveɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an increase in intensity, seriousness, or severity; act of making worse.

   an aggravation of pain.

2. the state of being aggravated. aggravated.

3. something that causes an increase in intensity, degree, or severity.

4. annoyance; exasperation.

   Johnny causes me so much aggravation!

5. a source or cause of annoyance or exasperation.

   Johnny's such an aggravation to her!

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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

That agreement expired last week, opening the door for further aggravation from the two investors.

From The Wall Street Journal

I wouldn’t have gone through all the aggravation of making this movie if they weren’t the greatest onion ring in the world.

From Salon

Monitoring, litigating, and tax administration are king-size aggravations that nobody talks about because at the plan-sponsor level it’s called job security.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

The Milan court found that no aggravation had been involved as a consumer group had withdrawn its original complaint.

From BBC

Related Words

• irritation