aggravation
Worsening an injury
Aggravation is the act of making something worse, or the state of being made worse: The construction noise was an aggravation of an already stressful situation.
More commonly, aggravation means irritation or annoyance: I don't need this aggravation right now.
The informal sense dominates everyday speech, while the formal sense—worsening of a condition or problem—persists in legal and medical contexts: aggravation of a preexisting injury.
Mild anger or inflammation
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
- botherTo annoy or disturb
pestering · displeasure · galling · irksomeness · nagging · hassle · pet peeve · thorn
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
- strainExcessive stretching force
- pressureForce upon contact
- headacheCranial pain
hassle · burden · anxiety · overwhelm · tension · burnout · weariness · fatigue
Direct hostile encounter
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
- tensionStretched or strained state
friction · antagonism · hostility · discord · strife · contention · provocation · animosity
irritation
Mild anger or inflammation
- vexationFrustrated annoyance
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
- nuisanceCause of aggravation
bother · pestering · displeasure · galling · irksomeness · nagging · hassle · pet peeve · thorn · bugbear
frustration
Displeasure from blocked efforts
- exasperationIntense weary annoyance
- strainExcessive stretching force
- pressureForce upon contact
headache · hassle · burden · anxiety · overwhelm · tension · burnout · weariness · fatigue · impatience
confrontation
Direct hostile encounter
- altercationHeated verbal dispute
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- disputeVerbal clash over differences
tension · friction · antagonism · hostility · discord · strife · contention · provocation · animosity · feud
escalate
Increase in severity
worsen · amplify · deepen · inflame · magnify · deterioration · complication · setback · flare-up · relapse
- annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
- frustrationanger, annoyance, irritation, exasperation, impatience
- pet peevesannoyance, loud chewing, irritation, loud talking, frustration
- unpleasantnesspain, anger, sadness, misery, disgust
- criminal courtstrials, courtroom, verdicts, defendants, accused
- flare-upsflare-up, exacerbation, relapse, outbreak, episode
aggravationpleasure
Happy, satisfied feeling
delight · joy · contentment · satisfaction · happiness
aggravationalleviation
Reduction of intensity
mitigation · relief · amelioration · soothing · easing
aggravationconvenience
Ease of use
ease · simplicity · effortlessness · breeze · facility
- aggravating factorsConditions worsening an offense
- aggravating circumstancesConditions warranting harsher punishment