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
  • All of which is to say that the Knicks, who were quite perturbed by the tumult caused by this latest report, appear fully focused on making a legitimate title run with this group.
    Sam Amick, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • At one point, even Skeet seems perturbed.
    Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Lakers were down LeBron James, afflicted by nerve pain.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Bicycles ignore the real tangible problems that afflict us.
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As a consequence, the president has given fresh impetus to a story that has disquieted even parts of his base.
    Niall Stanage, The Hill, 9 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, the energy is disquieting and distracting to you.
    Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Was Scott brimming with optimism for the future, as his brother maintained, or privately tormented, as his partner believed?
    Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Stalzer reportedly told police that she was tormented for hours by her daughter in the basement of her home, per Bild.
    Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In a third discomposing show of baseball in as many days, the Brewers fell, 8-6, to the lowly A's, who looked like anything but in an emphatic weekend-long dismantling of a team that entered in first place.
    Journal Sentinel, Journal Sentinel, 11 June 2023
Verb
  • To my relief and delight, the firearm had not exploded in my face, maiming me for life.
    Caity Weaver, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The attack included fighters flying gliders into a music festival and seizing kibbutzim along the Gaza border, killing, maiming and kidnapping civilians.
    NBC News, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Activists have been upset with Schumer for voting with Republicans in March to avoid a government shutdown.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Iowa State was upset by a Colorado team that was reeling, and the Cyclones just don’t appear to be the same team without their two star cornerbacks.
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Jays tortured the Yankees all season, and notched one final win 5-2 in Game 4 of the AL Division Series on Wednesday.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
  • Murphy also revealed there would be a focus on the Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Báthory, who, along with her servants, was accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Aggrieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrieve. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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