aggravation

pronunciation

How to pronounce aggravation in British English: UK [ˌæɡrə'veɪʃn]word uk audio image

How to pronounce aggravation in American English: US [ˌæɡrəˈveʃən] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    an exasperated feeling of annoyance
    unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment
    action that makes a problem or a disease (or its symptoms) worse

Word Origin

aggravation (n.)
late 15c., from Middle French aggravation, from Late Latin aggravationem (nominative aggravatio), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin aggravare "make heavier," figuratively "to embarrass further, increase in oppressiveness," from ad "to" (see ad-) + gravare "weigh down," from gravis "heavy" (see grave (adj.)). Oldest sense is "increasing in gravity or seriousness;" that of "irritation" is from 1610s.

Example

1. That he held this heresy was a further aggravation of his silence and secrecy and inwardness of disposition .
2. The aggravation of her condition resulted from lack of care .
3. The robot monitors a child 's emotions by measuring minute changes in heartbeat , sweating , gaze , and other physiological signs , and when it senses boredom or aggravation , it changes the game until the signals indicate the child is having fun again .
4. Let us hope the decision proves to be part of the solution , not an aggravation of the challenges we face .
5. Developed countries remain high unemployment rate , high debt rate and low economy increase rate , while there appeared economic overheat , inflation , prediction on further inflation aggravation and asset bubbles .

more: >How to Use "aggravation" with Example Sentences