aggravated

adjective

ag·​gra·​vat·​ed ˈa-grə-ˌvā-təd 

1

: angry or displeased especially because of small problems or annoyances : feeling or showing aggravation

Sid snored on. Tom was aggravated. He said, "Sid, Sid!" and shook him.

—Mark Twain

The maid sounded very aggravated.

—Louise Fitzhugh

2

law, of a criminal offense : considered more serious or heinous than normal : characterized by aggravating elements (such as the use of a deadly weapon)

aggravated manslaughter

see also aggravated assault

Synonyms

• irritated
• annoyed
• bothered
• exasperated
• upset
• angry

Examples of aggravated in a Sentence

aggravated customers looking in vain for a salesclerk for assistance

Recent Examples on the Web

Police made one arrest March 15, booking a boy into jail on suspicion of aggravated assault. —Maritza Dominguez, AZCentral.com, 8 July 2025

Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, 22, from Honduras, had been arrested once for unlawful handgun possession and separately for aggravated assault in New Jersey, while 18-year-old Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada, from Colombia, had been charged in May with burglary, theft and conspiracy. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 24 June 2025

Originally charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, Wasnetsky now faces upgraded charges of first- and third-degree murder, police said. —Mike Stunson, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025

He was also charged with mail fraud in 1983 and was accused of aggravated rape. —Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of aggravate

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aggravated

• aggravated assault

Rhymes for aggravated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated
• amputated

Legal Definition

aggravated

adjective

ag·​gra·​vat·​ed

: characterized by aggravating elements (as the use of a deadly weapon)

aggravated kidnapping