aggrieve

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb aggrieve differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of aggrieve are oppress, persecute, and wrong. While all these words mean "to injure unjustly or outrageously," aggrieve implies suffering caused by an infringement or denial of rights.

a legal aid society representing aggrieved minority groups

When can oppress be used instead of aggrieve?

While in some cases nearly identical to aggrieve, oppress suggests inhumane imposing of burdens one cannot endure or exacting more than one can perform.

a people oppressed by a warmongering tyrant

In what contexts can persecute take the place of aggrieve?

Although the words persecute and aggrieve have much in common, persecute implies a relentless and unremitting subjection to annoyance or suffering.

a child persecuted by constant criticism

Where would wrong be a reasonable alternative to aggrieve?

The words wrong and aggrieve can be used in similar contexts, but wrong implies inflicting injury either unmerited or out of proportion to what one deserves.

a penal system that had wronged him

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 aggrieve British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a chemicals magnate and an avid outdoorsman, was aggrieved when Land Rover replaced its rugged and rudimentary old Defender with a design that shares its engineering principles with current passenger cars. Ben Oliver, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2023 Amazon prohibits class action lawsuits in which aggrieved sellers can aggregate their claims and have their case decided by a judge or a jury. Sandeep Vaheesan, The New Republic, 28 Feb. 2023 He was aggrieved when Hitler, in an attempt to make the National Socialists more palatable to the middle class, opposed the Rural People’s Movement, a popular anti-Weimar tax revolt, which was commendably trying to blow up buildings in Berlin. Thomas Meaney, Harper’s Magazine , 16 Feb. 2023 Foreigners who aggrieve the Chinese Communist Party seriously enough typically get banned from the country. Tiffany Ap, Quartz, 4 Feb. 2022 See All Example Sentences for aggrieve
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aggrieve
Verb
  • In Ukraine, citizens still reeling from the war have been perturbed by Trump’s comments.
    Natasha Frost, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025
  • The observations also confirmed 2024 PT5 had all the characteristics expected of a rocky surface, including the extent to which its orbit is perturbed by solar radiation.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Egg prices have jumped to all-time highs due in part to an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, that has been afflicting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022.
    Jennifer Hauser, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
  • This, in turn, led to waves of protest and a series of arsons that afflicted 24 churches over the next two years.
    The Editors, National Review, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Many here see her as the embodiment of an America undergoing a cultural shift that threatens the heritage and political sensibilities of an old frontier town disquieted by changing times and suspicious of alternative lifestyles.
    Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2024
  • One of Biden’s challenges is that some of the Black men who are paying close attention in Macon are deeply disquieted by the influx of migrants at the U.S.’s southern border and the amount of money that his administration has committed to stopping Russia’s war in Ukraine.
    Maeve Reston, Washington Post, 30 June 2024
Verb
  • But physical ailments were only part of what tormented him.
    Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Overwhelmed with raising her younger brother and frustrated from the lack of help from middle sibling Dre, Calla is tormented by nightmares of both her brothers dying.
    Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Each shell scatters as many as 88 grenade-sized submunitions, and can kill and maim infantry across a wide area.
    David Axe, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
  • Siegfried is very worried that Tristan has been thrown out of the army or is maimed or something horrible has happened.
    Alice Burton, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Arizona apologized for fans’ derogatory chants directed at BYU after the Cougars upset the No. 19 Wildcats in a wild 96-95 win Saturday night.
    Jenna West, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025
  • The Trojans, the No. 6 seed, upset No. 3 Bellarmine in San Jose.
    Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Caro Quintero and others then allegedly sought revenge, kidnapping Salazar and torturing him, before killing him.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Rami’s unhappy family splinters over love and politics; an opponent of both the monarchy and Saddam Hussein in the 1950s and 1960s, Rami is imprisoned and tortured, eventually escaping to gain asylum in France.
    Lisa Anderson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Alongside his other political ventures—such as voicing support for far-right parties across Europe—this could alienate Tesla's customer base, which polling suggests leans to the left.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • His actions alienated many, particularly military leaders who could have better resisted the Mongol invasion.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aggrieve.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aggrieve. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!