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
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Recent Examples of aggravation
The other key context of Tuesday’s aggravation is the looming NBA trade deadline on Thursday.
—
Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Antetokounmpo expects this aggravation to sideline him even longer.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
From within a tornado of aggravation Sunday evening, Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson sought to provide direction.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
None of this may alleviate some drivers’ aggravation with new-fangled headlights.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravation
Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Antetokounmpo expects this aggravation to sideline him even longer.
—Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
From within a tornado of aggravation Sunday evening, Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson sought to provide direction.
—Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
None of this may alleviate some drivers’ aggravation with new-fangled headlights.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aggravation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravation
Noun
-
However, the ink was barely dry when new revelations emerged last week that pose a fresh headache for Cannon.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Authorities said Koc and Alshmari attacked the victim, causing a split lip and headaches.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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According to Sethi, a 2024 survey showed that 7 out of 10 New Yorkers have experienced some form of street harassment.—
Allen Devlin,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Aside from the monetary penalty, the settlement requires Justin and Wonderful to halt any harassment or retaliation, undergo compliance audits and take other measures at the vineyard operations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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New transparency tools aim to help travelers understand disruptions and reduce frustration during delays and cancellations.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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And while the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved covering the overrun, most of which will come from the county's unrestricted fund balance, frustration is clearly building.—
Ubah Ali,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The pests have been a nuisance in the foothills for years.—
Nicole Comstock,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Some customers found Buc-ees pay-at-the-pump policy to be a minor nuisance.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Garcia said detectives have learned that Serrano was not connected to the initial domestic disturbance call that brought officers to the neighborhood.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Several fungal species are most often carried by dust and other soil disturbances, posing health risks when inhaled.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The team said imaging was consistent with irritation in the joint of the first toe on his right foot, adding that further updates will be provided as appropriate without providing a timeline for Westbrook’s return.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
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Side effects can include redness, itching, dryness, flaking, or other scalp irritation, but these are uncommon, according to WebMD.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What This Means for South Florida’s Outdoor Diners For the millions of residents and visitors who eat outdoors along South Florida’s coast each year, the research reframes a familiar annoyance.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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In order to make sure horses keep their cool among loud, unpredictable crowds, officers do desensitization training with speakers, sirens, inflatable tube men, kazoos, fireworks, flags and all manner of annoyances.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Across town, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone seem to operate with permanent job security, much to the exasperation of a certain segment of the team’s fan base.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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Cuarón clearly understood that the more extravagant choices can only function in the periphery of a sturdy emotional anchor, an actor with the gravitas to communicate the exasperation that Liborio feels in a reality that overwhelms him.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aggravation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravation. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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