1
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
a reminder designed to prevent the aggravation of phones ringing during movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
the neighbors' constant aggravations prompted us to move out of town
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in frustration
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts
informed her children that she didn't need the extra aggravation of hearing them fight in the back seat while they were stuck in traffic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 aggravation
According to Commanders' head coach Dan Quinn, McLaurin's re-aggravation of his quad injury will force him to miss Sunday's game.
—
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
From airports to airplanes, hotels to restaurants, a literal buffet of slights, misunderstandings, and aggravations is offered up to the viewer in a one-hour comedic feast.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Improper vehicle maintenance can cost you extra money and unnecessary aggravation.
—Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Those include allergy symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and irritated eyes and skin, as well as respiratory issues like shortness of breath, chest tightness and aggravation of asthma or COPD.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravation
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
From airports to airplanes, hotels to restaurants, a literal buffet of slights, misunderstandings, and aggravations is offered up to the viewer in a one-hour comedic feast.
—Debby Wolfinsohn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Improper vehicle maintenance can cost you extra money and unnecessary aggravation.
—Eric D. Lawrence, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
Those include allergy symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and irritated eyes and skin, as well as respiratory issues like shortness of breath, chest tightness and aggravation of asthma or COPD.
—Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aggravation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravation
Noun
-
Think peachy-bright, brunchy, and a little flirty without the headache.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Sonny Fouts, 71, has had a headache, stomachache and trouble sleeping since seeing news reports that the 37-year-old ICU nurse had been fatally shot by ICE agents Saturday, the vet and retired musician told People.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many of his victims said that their relationships with family members, employers and partners were irreparably harmed as a result of Hardy's hacking and harassment, which often included sending nude photos of his victims to people in their personal networks.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In September 2021, the Spirit fired head coach Richie Burke following allegations of emotional and verbal harassment.—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Republican ends Minnesota governor bid over immigration enforcement Chris Madel, a Republican, ended his campaign for Minnesota governor after less than two months, citing frustration with the party and the way federal officials have carried out immigration operations in the state.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Now, nearly in February, frustration and isolation are growing for Rowland and fellow residents.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While often seen as a nuisance that reduces confinement, this new research suggests they can be used as a control mechanism.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The click-clack, click-clack of a mill that operated around the clock would serve as either a constant nuisance or soothing white noise, depending on one’s disposition.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Drinking has been found to increase the risk of many cancers, metabolic dysfunction, gut microbiome disturbances and mitochondrial toxins, Hyman said.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
However, these components proved too vulnerable to the extreme conditions, including intense shock waves and aerodynamic disturbances at low altitudes.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Just avoid placing them directly against bare skin for extended periods to prevent irritation or burns.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Rarely, salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Apple has been working to eliminate the inner screen’s visible crease, a longtime annoyance of the category.—
Chris Welch,
Bloomberg,
27 Jan. 2026
-
That said, your annoyance is also valid.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In the meantime, some may recall then UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s exasperation over the planning for D-Day, the operation that would liberate Western Europe from Nazi Germany.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Fans have argued this point for decades, and Cameron approached it with an unexpected mix of passion and exasperation.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravation. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
