Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Incited, especially deliberately, to anger: Describes a state of being made angry, often intentionally provoked.
   • Made more severe or intense, especially in a legal context: Describes something that has been worsened or intensified, particularly referring to the nature of a crime or offense.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The customer was aggravated by the long wait and poor service.
  • He was charged with aggravated assault, which carries a heavier penalty than simple assault.
  • Her headache was aggravated by the loud noise.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Term: In law, "aggravated" is used to classify a more serious degree of a crime due to specific circumstances (e.g., use of a weapon, intent, or severity of injury to the victim).
  • The robbery became an aggravated felony because a firearm was displayed.

Variants and Related Words

• Aggravate (verb): To make a situation, offense, or condition worse or more serious.
  • Scratching will only aggravate the rash.
• Aggravation (noun): The state of being aggravated; an instance of this; something that causes annoyance or exacerbation.
  • The constant delays were a major aggravation.
• Aggravating (adjective): Causing annoyance or exasperation; making a problem or offense worse.
  • His aggravating comments made everyone tense.

Synonyms

• Provoked: Stimulated or incited, especially to anger.
• Exacerbated: Made a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
• Intensified: Made more intense or severe.

Related Phrases

• Aggravated assault: A criminal assault accompanied by circumstances that make it more severe, such as the use of a deadly weapon or the intent to commit another crime.
• Aggravated circumstances: Factors that increase the seriousness or culpability of an act, often considered in legal sentencing.

Adjective

1. incited, especially deliberately, to anger
   • aggravated by passive resistance
   • the provoked animal attacked the child
2. made more severe or intense especially in law
   • aggravated assault