aggrieve

verb

ag·​grieve ə-ˈgrēv How to pronounce aggrieve (audio)
aggrieved; aggrieving
Synonyms of aggrievenext

transitive verb

1
: to give pain or trouble to : distress
2
: to inflict injury on
Choose the Right Synonym for aggrieve

wrong, oppress, persecute, aggrieve mean to injure unjustly or outrageously.

wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

Examples of aggrieve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And my colleagues do not seem to be aggrieved about this. — Tara Suter, The Hill, 12 Feb. 2026 For those of us who love to be aggrieved, just as much enjoyment can be found in rooting against a certain film. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026 The governors deal every day with people who are alight with causes, often aggrieved and in need. — Caroline Mimbs Nyce, New Yorker, 2 June 2026 Although reticent about her demons, Amanda is highly verbal when aggrieved. — Carla Meyer, Houston Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aggrieve

Word History

Etymology

Middle English agreven "to affect adversely, disturb, distress," borrowed from Anglo-French agrever "to make burdensome, worsen," going back to Latin aggravāre "to weigh down, burden, make worse" — more at aggravate

Note: The vowel -e- in agrever shows influence of grever "to grieve."

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aggrieve was in the 14th century

Rhymes for aggrieve

See All Rhymes for aggrieve

Browse Nearby Words

aggrievance
aggrieve
aggrieved
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aggrieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aggrieve. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

aggrieve

transitive verb
ag·​grieve ə-ˈgrēv How to pronounce aggrieve (audio)
aggrieved; aggrieving
: to inflict injury on: as
a
: to adversely affect the interests of
was not the party aggrieved by the exemption
b
: to infringe or deny the rights of
a person aggrieved by an unlawful search and seizure—Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 41(g)

More from Merriam-Webster on aggrieve

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for aggrieve

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