aggravation
noun
ag·gra·va·tion ˌa-grə-ˈvā-shən 
1
: an act or circumstance that intensifies something or makes something worse
His interference was an aggravation of the situation.
2
: the act, action, or result of aggravating something or someone
especially : an increasing in seriousness or severity
aggravation of an injury
3
: irritation, provocation
Her job involves a lot of stress and aggravation.
Synonyms
- aggro [British]
- annoyance
- bother
- botheration
- bugbear
- exasperation
- frustration
- hair shirt
- hassle
- headache
- inconvenience
- irk
- irritant
- nuisance
- peeve
- pest
- rub
- ruffle
- thorn
- trial
- vexation
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
trying to avoid the aggravation of an existing back problem I don't need all this aggravation. This car has caused me nothing but aggravation. Many talented people now feel that a career in politics isn't worth all the aggravation. I don't need all these aggravations.
Recent Examples on the Web Here’s the crazy part about the aggravation currently suffocating much of the fan base. 
Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 15 Dec. 2021 Perhaps many sources of aggravation, conflict, and selfishness might come from those who do not trust themselves, or love themselves, which formulates heaps of mental health challenges perpetuating even more pain. Alex Wagner, SPIN, 15 July 2022 And similar to those laptops, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga meets my minimum port requirements for avoiding immediate aggravation. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 8 July 2022 Pushing uses apart was a way of using distance to mitigate the health risks or aggravation of various uses from other uses, especially residential. Roger Valdez, Forbes, 4 July 2022 There are two people to cherish, but also two to cause aggravation. Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2021 Another factor may have been that more pregnant Black women worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and were spared the aggravation of stressful workplaces, Langford said. cleveland, 12 Apr. 2022 Wheat Street Baptist has never opened its records, much to the aggravation of Atlanta archivists. Hanna Raskin, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2022 Unfortunately, there is no shortage of travel aggravation. Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 1 June 2022 See More
Dan Wiederer, chicagotribune.com, 15 Dec. 2021 Perhaps many sources of aggravation, conflict, and selfishness might come from those who do not trust themselves, or love themselves, which formulates heaps of mental health challenges perpetuating even more pain. Alex Wagner, SPIN, 15 July 2022 And similar to those laptops, the ThinkPad X1 Yoga meets my minimum port requirements for avoiding immediate aggravation. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 8 July 2022 Pushing uses apart was a way of using distance to mitigate the health risks or aggravation of various uses from other uses, especially residential. Roger Valdez, Forbes, 4 July 2022 There are two people to cherish, but also two to cause aggravation. Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2021 Another factor may have been that more pregnant Black women worked from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and were spared the aggravation of stressful workplaces, Langford said. cleveland, 12 Apr. 2022 Wheat Street Baptist has never opened its records, much to the aggravation of Atlanta archivists. Hanna Raskin, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Mar. 2022 Unfortunately, there is no shortage of travel aggravation. Michael Goldstein, Forbes, 1 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Late Latin aggravātiōn-, aggravātiō "a weighing down," from Latin aggravāre "to weigh down, aggravate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns
First Known Use
1546, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
aggravation
noun
ag·gra·va·tion ˌa-grə-ˈvā-shən
1
: an act or the result of making worse or more serious
All that walking resulted in aggravation of an existing knee injury.
2
: something that annoys or bothers someone The constant noise was a source of aggravation.
aggravation
noun
1
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
- headache
- frustration
- nuisance
- annoyance
- inconvenience
- worry
- thorn
- irritant
- problem
- exasperation
- vexation
- hassle
- irk
- discomfort
- rub
- trial
- insult
- pest
- bother
- bugbear
- menace
- botheration
- peeve
- anxiety
- trouble
- burden
- hair shirt
- predicament
- ruffle
- curse
- affront
- aggro
- plague
- upset
- offence
- plight
- offender
- tribulation
- sore
- pinprick
- offense
- albatross
- fleabite
- cross
- disturber
- millstone
- mischief
- annoyer
- affliction
- harasser
- pet peeve
- hang-up
- pandora's box
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joy
- pleasure
- delight
2
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
- harassment
- annoyance
- disturbance
- bothering
- bugging
- vexation
- teasing
- botheration
- pestering
- bedevilment
- harrying
- torture
- persecution
- torment
- importunity
- provocation
- offence
- molestation
- offense
- devilment
- mischief
- aggro
- devilry
3
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
- frustration
- irritation
- exasperation
- annoyance
- grief
- displeasure
- anger
- discomfort
- vexation
- trouble
- indignation
- irritability
- distress
- bother
- agitation
- botheration
- upset
- pip
- outrage
- disturbance
- resentment
- aggro
- perturbation
- irritableness
- pet
- ire
- pique
- umbrage
- angriness
- dudgeon
- snappishness
- gall
- peeve
- chafe
- dander
- irateness
- huff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasure
- delight