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
  • Far from panicked or perturbed, Tito confidently walks around the tub and even places a paw on her leg, clearly unbothered by the splash zone.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • But Trump is suddenly perturbed by the mere mention of TACO.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Violent crime, meanwhile, is a scourge afflicting every community.
    Sizwe Mpofu Walsh, Time, 23 May 2025
  • Cucumbers are also susceptible to powdery mildew, a problem that afflicts many zinnias.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Vessel’s lyrics seem disquieted by the attention, though.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • 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
Verb
  • As a girl, she was also tormented by a reddish blotchiness on her face, most likely from rosacea or acne.
    James Marcus, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
  • As with Lydia, June is able to reconcile somewhat with Serena (Yvonne Strahovski), who tormented her as the wife of Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes), June's first master.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Not that long ago, an 11th-hour revelation that the Justice Department was criminally investigating a candidate like Andrew M. Cuomo would have been enough to kill or at least seriously maim a mayoral campaign.
    Nicholas Fandos, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • Turquoise Morton, 38, is charged with abandoning a domestic animal and animal cruelty for allegedly torturing, tormenting, or maiming a dog.
    Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • Italy's decision to tighten its citizenship rules has upset some Italian Americans hoping to formalize their connection to the country.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • The right back is a member of Arsenal, which upset favored Barcelona for the title, 1-0, in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, May 24.
    Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • The footage includes a scene in which a Hitler look-alike is tortured.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2025
  • In 2024, Chinese state media reported at least four separate cases of university students allegedly torturing cats.
    Rebecca Wright, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Smarter pricing decisions, such as prioritizing high-demand products while adjusting prices for less critical SKUs, can stabilize revenues without alienating customers.
    Joshua Bardell, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • This is also the episode where Samantha covets a Birkin and ends up alienating Lucy Liu in the process, which is an equally memorable, if less emotional, plot point.
    Melissa Locker, Time, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Aggrieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrieve. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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