aggrieved

adjective

ag·​grieved ə-ˈgrēvd 

1

: troubled or distressed in spirit

2

a

: suffering from an infringement or denial of legal rights

aggrieved minority groups

b

: showing or expressing grief, injury, or offense

an aggrieved plea

aggrievedly

ə-ˈgrē-vəd-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• dissatisfied
• frustrated

Examples of aggrieved in a Sentence

He felt aggrieved by their refusal to meet with him.

The aggrieved party may cancel the contract.

Recent Examples on the Web

The administration has said that federal judges have overreached by issuing orders that apply to all parties instead of only the aggrieved parties. —Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025

The aggrieved employees are all over the age of 50 and have raised an internal complaint as a first step to pursuing an employment tribunal against the BBC. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 June 2025

An emerging critique of aggrieved white machismo comes off, mostly, as a shallow topical hook. —Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025

Dating app filters encourage us to lean into our biases Though the conversation around dating app discrimination can quickly slide, among some aggrieved singles, into misogynistic territory, shorter men are likely at a disadvantage on the apps, Sharabi said. —Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English agreved "annoyed, resentful," from past participle of agreven "to aggrieve"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for aggrieved

• disbelieved
• interleaved
• misconceived
• preconceived
• undeceived
• unperceived
• unrelieved
• achieved
• believed
• bereaved
• conceived
• deceived

Kids Definition

aggrieved

adjective

ag·​grieved ə-ˈgrēvd 

1

: troubled or distressed in spirit

2

: having a cause for complaint

especially : suffering from injury or loss

Legal Definition

aggrieved

adjective

: having a grievance: as

a

: suffering from an infringement or denial of rights

b

: having interests adversely affected

aggrieved creditors