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
  • The benchmark Nifty 50 and the BSE Sensex were little changed, signaling investors so far were not perturbed by tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries.
    Ganesh Rao,Anniek Bao, CNBC, 7 May 2025
  • In doing so, one particular issue came up and really seemed to perturb Steve – the One-Acre Cannabis Cap.
    Robert Hoban, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But in the midst of profound uncertainty and genuine pain and dislocation afflicting many, to convey confidence in addressing a highly volatile and fundamentally uncertain future would be inauthentic, and likely to be seen as such.
    Paul Laudicina, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025
  • Alhurra is subject to the same forces afflicting all TV networks, with audiences increasingly finding their news on TikTok and YouTube.
    Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 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
  • After being tormented all year long by the highlight of Dončić hitting the step-back 3 on him in Game 1 of the conference finals, Gobert dunked on Dončić in the closeout game.
    Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 1 May 2025
  • David Boyd, 64, was hit with numerous charges for allegedly tormenting two sisters for several years in the north Milwaukee suburb of Brown Deer, local NBC affiliate WTMJ reported.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • More than 600 species of venomous snakes roam the earth, biting as many as 2.7 million people, killing about 120,000 people and maiming 400,000 others — numbers thought to be vast underestimates.
    Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • However, Reiner thought Sheldon should be merely badly injured, not permanently maimed.
    Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This edition upset the Flames in the first round, winning Game 7 in double OT to capture the series despite being outscored 35-26.
    Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • That is likely to diminish the chances of an American Pope, particularly as there’s already reportedly concern that doing so would upset the global balance of power.
    Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The duo were accused of torturing and killing Micah in March 2018 in the garage of Queen's friend Matthew Vandecasteele over a missing gun dispute, then dismembering Micah and disposing of his body parts.
    Emily Krauser, People.com, 12 May 2025
  • Airlines would just shrink the size of their seats even more, leaving all of us scrambling desperately to feel a little less tortured on our next flights.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Verb
  • No other governor would purposely alienate the families of 70,000 kids.
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 10 May 2025
  • Using their status as low- or no-tariff zones has required connector countries to thread a narrow path, exploiting opportunities for trade while minimizing the risk of alienating the West or China.
    Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 7 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Aggrieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrieve. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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