aggrieve

Definition of aggrievenext

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 Now, rather than view North Korea as an unruly, angry neighbor, China has welcomed it, along with Russia and Iran, as part of what White House officials call a coalition of the aggrieved. — Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2023 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 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 new study provides a possible mechanism for this, showing that plastic-water interfaces can perturb proteins, cell membranes, and more.
    — Payal Dhar, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Not only does Mehta deliver a stunning debut performance, as a young girl perturbed by the world and her place within it, but the film’s sinister, shadowy tone makes even natural spaces feel imposing.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Speaking to Variety ahead of the market, Mackinnon says the show takes its title from the chronic burnout that afflicts emergency workers on the job.
    — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
  • On screen, Guitarrica’s expressive and angular visage conveys the fright and uncertainty that afflict his character, who is desperate for tenderness.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Concurrently, the duo was seeing a growth of comic conventions, but a disquieting sidelining of artists at the same time.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The light is always ‘slanted,’ casting the novel’s gnomic creations in disquieting atmospherics.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Verb
  • After several hours of tormenting Machado, Sierra placed his leg on her chest to keep her from moving and wrapped a yellow Sedano’s Supermarket plastic bag over her face.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Though his father’s death torments him, Calvin is an affable, hardworking widower.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
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
  • Doctors in Aleppo later reported a pattern of regime snipers shooting to maim civilians, rather than to kill them—partly to maximize suffering, partly to invite rescue attempts.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Through its stance, the NHL bears a share of responsibility for the people killed and maimed in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
    — Dominik Hasek, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Florida rose from the dead to upset Texas in Austin on the back of another disappointing performance from Arch Manning.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Still, RadarOnline is reporting that Meghan is upset by comments from her ex-agent Ari Emanuel.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • His underlings kidnapped and tortured a dealer who refused to pay, the indictment said.
    — Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The organization advocating on his behalf said Gilman had been tortured in Russian detention.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Aggrieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrieve. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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