Aggravated

Aggravated is an adjective used to describe something that has been made worse, more serious, or more intense. In everyday language, it can refer to emotions, situations, or conditions that have intensified, such as an aggravated delay or an aggravated argument. The related verb is aggravate, meaning to worsen something, and the noun aggravation refers to the act or effect of making something worse.

Etymology traces aggravated to the Latin word aggravare, meaning “to make heavier” or “to weigh down,” with the sense carried into various Romance languages and English. In common usage, aggravation often conveys a sense of added difficulty or severity beyond what was present initially. Synonyms include worsen, exacerbate, intensify, and heighten, though each word carries subtle nuance.

In law, aggravated is a legal modifier indicating an offense with additional factors that justify enhanced penalties. Examples include aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, and aggravated arson. Common aggravating factors can include the use or display of a weapon, intent to cause serious harm, vulnerability of the victim (such as age or disability), or a history of prior offenses. The specific offenses and factors vary by jurisdiction, and some legal systems distinguish between basic offenses and their aggravated counterparts with distinct charging standards and sentencing guidelines.

In medical and scientific contexts, aggravated can describe symptoms or conditions that have worsened, though terms like exacerbated or aggravated by a factor are often used interchangeably. Usage should be precise to avoid ambiguity, particularly in legal or clinical settings.

Overall, aggravated conveys the sense of increased severity or aggravation beyond a baseline condition, with particular weight in legal contexts where it signals enhanced culpability or risk.