aggravated

USAGE SUMMARY

'aggravated' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective meaning to make worse or to show irritation or displeasure. An example sentence would be, "The teacher was aggravated with the student's poor behavior."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The situation has been aggravated in recent weeks by accusations of sodomy against Anwar.

The Guardian

"That said, however, I'm not sure I ever really got that aggravated by ideas like Pop Idol.

The Guardian - Music

Anti-tax avoidance protesters from the group UK Uncut have been found guilty of aggravated trespass after more than 150 people occupied a luxury shop during a TUC-organised demonstration last March.

The Guardian

An ATP statement said: "Under the ATP code of conduct, Klein was found to have committed the player major offence, aggravated behaviour.

The Guardian - Sport

Those options widen to include 12 weeks' custody if aggravated by the way the goods were obtained.

The Guardian - Opinion

Much is made of the way the chancellor has continually missed his fiscal targets, but they are so severe that they aggravated the depression brought on by the great financial crisis.

The Guardian - Business

Another, Adriano Giacobone, 57, is wanted on charges that include illegal transport and discharge of toxic waste, poisoning water beds, kidnapping, illegal detention, carrying of firearms, aggravated theft and violence against a police officer.

The Guardian

Wirth's anguish was aggravated by the increasingly naive comments being directed his way.

The Guardian - Sport

She was charged with grand larceny and aggravated harassment after she was accused of extorting $6,000 from Cashman.

The New York Times - Sports

These flurries of contentiousness did not make up for a shortfall in competitiveness that would be aggravated further by the loss of the Hibs left-back, Pa Kujabi, who was shown a second yellow card in the second half.

The Guardian - Sport

The England and Wales Cricket Board has denied that Kevin Pietersen aggravated the achilles injury that ruled him out of the rest of the Ashes series by flouting a prescribed training programme while playing in the Indian Premier League in South Africa in April.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "aggravated" to describe situations where something is made worse or more intense, ensuring the context clearly indicates what is being intensified. For example, "His injury was aggravated by the strenuous exercise."

Common error

While "aggravated" can imply frustration, it primarily means 'made worse'. Avoid using it as a direct substitute for 'angry' or 'irritated' unless the context explicitly involves a worsening condition. For instance, say 'He was irritated by the delay' rather than 'He was aggravated by the delay' if the focus is solely on his emotional state.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "aggravated" is as an adjective. It describes a state or condition that has been made worse. As Ludwig AI suggests, it can also imply a state of frustration or anger, stemming from that worsened condition. Many examples show its use to describe negative situations becoming more intense.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

31%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "aggravated" functions primarily as an adjective, signifying that a condition or situation has been made worse. It appears very commonly in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. According to Ludwig AI, while grammatically correct, the word can also imply frustration. When writing, it's crucial to use "aggravated" to accurately convey that something has indeed been intensified or made more severe, avoiding its direct substitution for simple feelings of anger or irritation unless the context is appropriate. Related terms include "exacerbated", "worsened", and "intensified", providing nuanced alternatives depending on the specific meaning you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exacerbated

Focuses on making a situation or feeling more intense or severe, similar to "aggravated".

worsened

Indicates a deterioration in condition or quality, directly relating to the core meaning of "aggravated".

intensified

Emphasizes the increase in strength or degree of something, similar to how "aggravated" can amplify a problem.

irritated

Highlights the feeling of annoyance or frustration, which can be a consequence of being "aggravated".

inflamed

Implies an increase in anger, hostility, or passion, closely linked to the emotional connotation of "aggravated".

provoked

Suggests an action that incites or stimulates a reaction, aligning with the causing aspect of "aggravated".

heightened

Focuses on raising the level or intensity of something, akin to how "aggravated" elevates a situation.

compounded

Indicates the addition of something that worsens a situation, similar to how "aggravated" makes things more complex.

annoyed

Refers to a state of being bothered or irritated, reflecting the emotional impact of being "aggravated".

displeased

Expresses a feeling of dissatisfaction or disapproval, which can result from being "aggravated".

FAQs

How can I use "aggravated" in a sentence?

You can use "aggravated" to describe a situation where something is made worse. For example, "The situation was "aggravated" by the lack of communication."

What are some synonyms for "aggravated"?

Some synonyms for "aggravated" include "exacerbated", "worsened", and "intensified", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I am aggravated"?

While grammatically correct, "I am aggravated" is less common. It's more typical to say "I am irritated" or "I am annoyed" to express personal feelings of annoyance. "Aggravated" usually describes a condition that has been made worse.

What's the difference between "aggravated" and "irritated"?

"Irritated" typically refers to a feeling of annoyance or impatience. "Aggravated", on the other hand, usually means that something has been made worse or more severe. For example, an injury can be "aggravated", while a person might feel irritated.