aggravation

US /ˌæɡrəˈveɪʃən/ UK /ˌæɡrəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a worsening of something, or a source of annoyance

The endless delays were a constant aggravation to the staff.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a worsening of something,... worsening exacerbation intensification annoyance irritation exasperation provocation

Opposites

alleviation mitigation relief amelioration

Word family

Related forms aggravate grave gravity

Etymology

From Old French aggravation, from Late Latin aggravatio, from aggravare ('to make heavier'), from ad ('to') + gravare ('to weigh down'), from gravis ('heavy').

aggravatio Latin gravis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# aggravation

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌæɡrəˈveɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌæɡrəˈveɪʃ(ə)n/

## Meanings
1. a worsening of something, or a source of annoyance

## Examples
- The endless delays were a constant aggravation to the staff.

## Synonyms
- worsening
- exacerbation
- intensification
- annoyance
- irritation
- exasperation
- provocation

## Antonyms
- alleviation
- mitigation
- relief
- amelioration

## Related Forms
- aggravate
- grave
- gravity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: aggravatio
- Root: gravis

## Etymology
From Old French aggravation, from Late Latin aggravatio, from aggravare ('to make heavier'), from ad ('to') + gravare ('to weigh down'), from gravis ('heavy').

## AI Etymology
Aggravation is from Old French aggravation, from Late Latin aggravatio, from aggravare ('to make heavier'), from ad ('to') + gravare ('to weigh down'), from gravis ('heavy'). Important recorded forms include aggravatio (Latin) and gravis (Latin). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers a worsening of something, or a source of annoyance. The wider family includes related words such as aggravate, grave, and gravity.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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