aggravation

noun

ˌa-grə-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce aggravation (audio)
Definition of aggravationnext
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 Starkey was particularly concerned because his wife had recently had spinal surgery and a wreck or further aggravation could be catastrophic. — Scott Butler, Florida Times-Union, 8 May 2026 Brandon Ingram had a nightmare series before the aggravation of a heel injury ended his series in the second quarter of Game 5. — Eric Koreen, New York Times, 4 May 2026 And there’s no end in sight to the hazards and aggravation. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026 McAfee’s appearance on SmackDown and his late entrance into the rivalry with a few weeks to go before WrestleMania 42, sparked aggravation from pro wrestling fans on social media. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aggravation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravation
  1. headache
  2. harassment
  3. frustration
  4. nuisance
  5. disturbance
  6. irritation
  7. annoyance
  8. exasperation
Noun
  • The fever and the less intense strain often presents as a headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and fatigue.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
  • For some its allergies or other upper respiratory issues; for others too much of an aroma causes a headache or worse.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 24 July 2026
Definition of headache
Noun
  • This strange and layered case is the subject of the documentary, A Toxic Love Story, out July 22 on Netflix, which recounts the events that led to uncovering Ian and Angela as the true sources of the harassment.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 22 July 2026
  • Abarca was further charged with two counts of harassment by telecommunications device in Hutchinson, Kansas municipal court in December, according to court records.
    — Ilana Arougheti July 21, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
Definition of harassment
Noun
  • Such incidents created frustration among Old Sacramento business owners at the time, according to previous Bee reports, referencing gun violence.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026
  • The suspension stemmed in part from Liang’s frustration over online reports about his comments to investors during his first financing deal, which closed in June and raised $7 billion for the AI lab, the people said.
    — Haze Fan, Fortune, 25 July 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • Kansas City is asking a judge to put control of a vacant former shopping mall that the city calls a nuisance into new hands.
    — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • These tiny insects are a summertime nuisance that prey on people, pets, and wildlife, including birds, leaving behind an aggravating itch that can last for more than a week.
    — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 22 July 2026
Definition of nuisance
Noun
  • Cherry residents say developers and city leaders must do a better job protecting neighborhoods from preventable disturbances during big projects.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • By contrast, ecological systems are complexly interconnected, meaning that when one element is disturbed, all the other components linked to it are affected, too, spreading the disturbance throughout the system.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of disturbance
Noun
  • Carbonated drinks can also increase gas and abdominal discomfort, and alcohol may worsen dehydration and stomach irritation.
    — Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Later perimenopause can stretch cycles up to two months apart, with hot flashes affecting roughly 80% of women and new symptoms emerging, including depression, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness and vulvar irritation.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026
Definition of irritation
Noun
  • If every capacity conversation gets treated as an annoyance, that's your answer about how the job will run from here.
    — Andy Molinsky, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • These annoyances just barely prevent Hinge from dethroning our Editors' Choice winners for dating apps, Match and Tinder.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026
Definition of annoyance
Noun
  • The implosion of Platner’s candidacy—first bit by bit and then all at once—has Democrats nationwide throwing up their hands in exasperation.
    — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026
  • At a certain point, the admiration for Paraguay’s underdog defiance and spoiling strategy gave way to exasperation.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of exasperation

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aggravating
aggravation
aggravations
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Cite this Entry

“Aggravation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravation. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of aggravation for Spanish Speakers

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