aggravated
Americanadjective
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I get so aggravated when I get this much junk mail.
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made worse or more severe; intensified.
Stress impedes the emptying of the stomach, which can lead to aggravated heartburn.
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Law. characterized by some feature defined by law that enhances the crime, as the intention of the criminal or the special vulnerability of the victim.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- unaggravated adjective
Etymology
Origin of aggravated
Explanation
When you see the word aggravated in the description of a crime, it's a more serious crime. Aggravated assault is more than a punch in the nose — it’s assault with the intent of causing serious bodily harm. Aggravated is built on the Latin root gravis "heavy," as in gravity, and with the prefix ad-, it means "to make heavy." So robbery is one thing, but aggravated robbery is not only robbing someone, but also causing physical harm, and the punishment would be harsher than for simple robbery. The word is used more casually to mean "angered" — you're likely to be an aggravated customer if you’ve been waiting in line forever and someone cuts in front of you.
Vocabulary lists containing aggravated
The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 6
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ACT Reading Test: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Barring another appeal, Rivas will be sent back to her home country to stand trial on charges of aggravated kidnapping.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
It’s all a welcome respite from the looming gloom of MLB labor negotiations, in which owners, aggravated by mega spenders like the Dodgers, are expected to press hard for a salary cap.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026
French authorities are investigating "potential acts of aggravated human trafficking… with multiple victims," in relation to Al Fayed, according to correspondence seen by the BBC.
From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026
The charges are dereliction of duty and aggravated negligent destruction.
From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026
“I s’pose you think I cheated?” he finished, aggravated by her expression.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
