aggravation

noun

ag·​gra·​va·​tion ˌa-grə-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce aggravation (audio)
1
: an act or circumstance that intensifies something or makes something worse
His interference was an aggravation of the situation.
2
: the act, action, or result of aggravating something or someone
especially : an increasing in seriousness or severity
aggravation of an injury
3
: irritation, provocation
Her job involves a lot of stress and aggravation.
Common Uses of Aggravate, Aggravation, and Aggravating: Usage Guide

Although aggravate has been used to refer to rousing someone to anger since the 17th century, it has been the object of disapproval only since about 1870. It is used in expository prose

when his silly conceit … about his not-very-good early work has begun to aggravate us William Styron

but seems to be more common in speech and casual writing.

a good profession for him, because bus drivers get aggravated Jackie Gleason, interview, 1986
& now this letter comes to aggravate me a thousand times worse Mark Twain, letter, 1864

The "make worse" meaning is far more common in published prose than the "rouse to anger" meaning. Such is not the case, however, with aggravation and aggravating. Aggravation is used in the "irritation, provocation" sense somewhat more than in its earlier senses; aggravating has practically no use other than to express annoyance.

Examples of aggravation in a Sentence

trying to avoid the aggravation of an existing back problem I don't need all this aggravation. This car has caused me nothing but aggravation. Many talented people now feel that a career in politics isn't worth all the aggravation. I don't need all these aggravations.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
No doubt other customers just avoid the aggravation of trying to cancel, knowing how difficult the process will be. Roger Dooley, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 The games are full of jokes at the player’s expense—traps and dead ends and carefully orchestrated aggravations. Gabriel Winslow-Yost, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024 The big picture: These loophole gambling joints have long been an aggravation to police and an eyesore to neighbors. Alexandria Sands, Axios, 11 Oct. 2024 Then add the cost of aggravation, anxiety, and confusion. Howard Gleckman, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aggravation 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin aggravātiōn-, aggravātiō "a weighing down," from Latin aggravāre "to weigh down, aggravate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aggravation was in 1546

Dictionary Entries Near aggravation

Cite this Entry

“Aggravation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aggravation. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

aggravation

noun
ag·​gra·​va·​tion ˌag-rə-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce aggravation (audio)
1
: the act or result of aggravating
2
: something that aggravates

More from Merriam-Webster on aggravation

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