aggrieve
Low (C2 Level). Primarily formal/legal.Formal, Literary, Legal.
Definition
Meaning
to cause grief, distress, or harm to someone; to treat unfairly or unjustly.
Often used in formal, especially legal, contexts to describe the state of being wronged or suffering injury, leading to a sense of justified grievance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically used in passive constructions ('to be aggrieved by') or as a past participle adjective ('aggrieved'). The sense is of serious, often lasting, distress caused by perceived injustice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in British legal and formal administrative language.
Connotations
Conveys a strong sense of righteous indignation and formal complaint.
Frequency
Rare in casual conversation in both dialects. Its usage spikes in legal documents, official complaints, and high-register journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SOMEONE] aggrieves [SOMEONE] (rare, active)[SOMEONE] is aggrieved by [SOMETHING][SOMEONE] feels aggrieved (that/of/about)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “an aggrieved party (legal term)”
- “to nurse an aggrieved feeling”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Shareholders felt aggrieved by the board's lack of transparency.
Academic
The study focused on populations historically aggrieved by systemic policy.
Everyday
He was aggrieved that no one had consulted him. (Formal everyday)
Technical
The claimant must demonstrate they are an aggrieved person under section 14 of the Act.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The tribunal found that the policy did aggrieve a significant minority.
- It aggrieves me to see such waste. (Literary)
American English
- The court ruled the law could aggrieve certain protected classes.
- Actions that aggrieve the community must be addressed.
adverb
British English
- He looked at her aggrievedly, expecting an apology.
American English
- She spoke aggrievedly about the change in management.
adjective
British English
- The aggrieved tenants formed a housing cooperative.
- She wrote an aggrieved letter to the council.
American English
- The aggrieved workers filed a class-action suit.
- He had the aggrieved manner of someone perpetually overlooked.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Employees felt aggrieved after the sudden change in holiday policy.
- The aggrieved customer demanded to speak to the manager.
- The minority shareholders were deeply aggrieved by the leveraged buyout, which they perceived as enriching only the majority holder.
- Historically aggrieved groups may seek reparations through legal channels.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AG-GRIEVE' - Adding GRIEF to someone (AG = action, GRIEVE = sorrow).
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS BALANCE / INJUSTICE IS A BURDEN. Being aggrieved is carrying the weight of unfair treatment.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'огорчать' (to sadden) which is milder. Closer to 'причинять несправедливую обиду/ущерб', 'ущемлять в правах'.
- The adjective 'aggrieved' is often translated as 'пострадавший' but with a stronger connotation of moral injury, closer to 'ощущающий несправедливость'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in active voice in everyday contexts (e.g., 'It aggrieves me' – sounds stilted). Prefer 'It upsets/angers me'.
- Confusing 'aggrieved' with 'aggravated' (which means made worse).
- Overusing in place of simpler words like 'upset' or 'angry'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'aggrieve' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a formal word, most often encountered in legal, official, or literary contexts. In everyday speech, people use words like 'upset', 'wrong', or 'offend'.
The past participle 'aggrieved' used as an adjective (e.g., 'an aggrieved tone') or in passive constructions (e.g., 'She was aggrieved by the remark'). The active verb form is rare.
It is typically too strong for a minor annoyance. It implies a sense of serious injustice or unfair treatment, not just irritation.
'Aggrieved' means feeling wronged or unjustly treated. 'Aggravated' means made more serious or severe (e.g., 'aggravated assault'). They are not synonyms.
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