aggravated
aggravated Lexical Profile
aggravated Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
(Of a crime or legal offense) made more serious and punishable by harsher penalties due to attendant circumstances, such as the use of a weapon or intent to cause severe harm.
"The prosecutor upgraded the charge to aggravated burglary after discovering that the intruders were carrying a crowbar."
Made worse, more severe, or more intense (especially of an injury, medical condition, or problem).
"Resting the joint for several days prevented the aggravated tendon from suffering permanent damage."
Annoyed, frustrated, or impatient.
"The commuters grew increasingly aggravated as the train delay stretched into its second hour."
Word Nuance & Usage
In strict formal writing, some style guides prefer reserving 'aggravated' for conditions or offenses made more severe, and using 'irritated' or 'exasperated' for people who feel annoyed, though the emotional sense is fully established in standard English.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the past participle of the verb 'aggravate', which comes from the Latin 'aggravatus', meaning 'made heavier or worse', from 'ad-' (to) and 'gravis' (heavy).