AGGRAVATION Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

aggravation

noun

ˌa-grə-ˈvā-shən

Definition of aggravation

as in headache

something that is a source of irritation a reminder designed to prevent the aggravation of phones ringing during movies

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harassment

the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another the neighbors' constant aggravations prompted us to move out of town

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in frustration

the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts informed her children that she didn't need the extra aggravation of hearing them fight in the back seat while they were stuck in traffic

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of aggravation The overall slimness of the shoe has a narrow toe box, not allowing the toes to splay, which can lead to hammer toes or aggravation of bunions. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026 However, Perez was removed from the game in the sixth due to right elbow aggravation. — Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2026 Surprisingly, the aggravation that the Spider-Man team endured five years ago hasn’t stopped them from applying a similar playbook to Sadie Sink’s top-secret role in Brand New Day. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026 So much talk about his ankle this offseason, but an aggravation there obviously isn’t the only issue that could cost him time over a long season. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for aggravation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggravation

Noun

Those headaches create headwinds, but the underlying story provides support.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Residents have reported symptoms including burning in the eyes, lungs and sinuses, bad headaches and nausea.

— Lana Zak, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of headache

Noun

In the lawsuit, the family also claimed that an Oaks Christian School teacher accused their son of lying about the harassment after a student called him a racial epithet inside a classroom.

— Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Members of parliament received in-depth security briefings in Canberra on Wednesday as the Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner pointed to rising reports of harassment and threats against federal parliamentarians.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of harassment

Noun

Burks said much of the frustration is connected to top leaders who provide insufficient training.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Clinton's lack of a majority and list of frustrations in his first term set the stage for a bruising first midterm election in 1994.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustration

Noun

The vote, which is veto-proof, was met with praise by animal rights groups and park advocates who have long called for the ban citing several incidents where horses crashed or caused disturbances.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
There’s also a second disturbance several hundred miles east-southeast of Bermuda that could develop through Friday while moving north-northeast, the hurricane center advisory said.

— Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbance

Noun

High levels of exposure can cause skin, eye and throat irritation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
This formula pairs the retinoid with firming collagen peptides and niacinamide to offset potential irritation and improve elasticity.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of irritation

Noun

The Serbian leader had long been seen as an unpredictable annoyance, and his balancing act wasn’t particularly subtle.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
This, Barbera said, can be a programming annoyance as well as a knock on an otherwise good film.

— Jake Coyle, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoyance

Noun

But the fear and exasperation among the lenders whose money fuels this game sharpened noticeably over the past week.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
The tweet ended with an emoji of a man facepalming, conveying Johnson’s exasperation over the last play of Washington’s 27-27 tie with the New York Giants.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of exasperation

Browse Nearby Words

aggravating

aggravation

aggravations

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Style

“Aggravation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggravation. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of aggravation

noun

Example Sentences

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