aggrieve

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb aggrieve differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of aggrieve are oppress, persecute, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

When can oppress be used instead of aggrieve?

While in some cases nearly identical to aggrieve, oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

In what contexts can persecute take the place of aggrieve?

Although the words persecute and aggrieve have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

Where would wrong be a reasonable alternative to aggrieve?

The words wrong and aggrieve can be used in similar contexts, but wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of aggrieve British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a chemicals magnate and an avid outdoorsman, was aggrieved when Land Rover replaced its rugged and rudimentary old Defender with a design that shares its engineering principles with current passenger cars. Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2023 Amazon prohibits class action lawsuits in which aggrieved sellers can aggregate their claims and have their case decided by a judge or a jury. Sandeep Vaheesan, The New Republic, 28 Feb. 2023 He was aggrieved when Hitler, in an attempt to make the National Socialists more palatable to the middle class, opposed the Rural People’s Movement, a popular anti-Weimar tax revolt, which was commendably trying to blow up buildings in Berlin. Thomas Meaney, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2023 Foreigners who aggrieve the Chinese Communist Party seriously enough typically get banned from the country. Tiffany Ap, Quartz, 4 Feb. 2022 See All Example Sentences for aggrieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggrieve
Verb
  • Trump's push for peace -- which has been twinned with fierce public criticism of Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -- has been welcomed by America's allies, though leaders have been perturbed by the president's apparent alignment with Russia's false narratives about the conflict.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The camera showed Jewels looking perturbed in the audience, but Suzie tells EW why Jewels didn't immediately jump to out Arrietty's actions.
    EW.com, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In ways both provocative and beautiful, Faustine’s photography explored conditions afflicting Black women across time.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Most of the United States’ Northeastern states would be among the more afflicted, as would be the Great Lakes region.
    Katharina Buchholz, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Many here see her as the embodiment of an America undergoing a cultural shift that threatens the heritage and political sensibilities of an old frontier town disquieted by changing times and suspicious of alternative lifestyles.
    Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024
  • One of Biden’s challenges is that some of the Black men who are paying close attention in Macon are deeply disquieted by the influx of migrants at the U.S.’s southern border and the amount of money that his administration has committed to stopping Russia’s war in Ukraine.
    Maeve Reston, Washington Post, 30 June 2024
Verb
  • Detective Lee Yeon-hui (played by Shin Hyun-been of Hospital Playlist and Reborn Rich) is assigned to the case and also chases after the suspect, all the while being tormented by visions of her dead sister.
    Regina Kim, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The story follows the three Maxwell siblings who grew up as the only Black family in a gated Dallas neighborhood, also tormented by strange and unexplainable demonic happenings in their house.
    Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Trump then pardoned more than 1,500 rioters in his first days in the White House, including those convicted of maiming law enforcers.
    Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Here, that combination is less jarring because the slaughter flows organically from the premise: Because Nate doesn’t respond much to pain, he gets beaten and maimed even harder.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Anyone would be upset in this situation, but Moore ‘s anger is misplaced and could easily be read as jealousy.
    Jasmine Browley, Essence, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Alternative schools to traditional neighborhood schools Many parents who were upset by school closures opted to move their kids outside of their neighborhood public schools – and have kept them there, according to data from EdChoice, a nonprofit organization which advocates for school vouchers.
    Kayla Jimenez, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Reyes Barrios, who marched in protests against the Maduro regime in February and March 2024, had been tortured by government officials.
    Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Maybe the two of them are held prisoner down there for a while, being tortured by Milchick (or whomever is brought in to replace him after two separate catastrophes have happened under his watch).
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Downsizing investments in sustainability will also alienate employees, consumers, and communities who reward businesses that reduce environmental impact, enhance social equity, and improve long-term resilience.
    Paul Klein, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Fear comes to many with visas who are worried about being kicked out of the country or when Trump is alienating many countries but Vladimir Putin’s.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Aggrieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrieve. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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