aggravated
AG-ruh-vay-ted
/ˈæɡrəveɪtɪd/
Made more serious by attendant circumstances (such as the use of a weapon or the intent to commit another felony).
In a legal context, 'aggravated' doesn't mean 'annoyed.' It means the crime has been 'weighted' with extra severity, leading to harsher penalties.
The story behind the word. The root is 'gravis,' meaning heavy (the same root as 'gravity'). To 'aggravate' a crime is to add weight to it, making the legal burden on the defendant much heavier.
Word relationships
- exacerbated: Exacerbated means made worse, but is usually used for conditions or feelings, not legal charges.
- intensified: Intensified is a general term for making something stronger; aggravated is specific to legal severity.
- mitigated: Mitigated circumstances are those that make a crime seem less severe or more understandable.
Commonly confused with
- aggravating: Aggravating is the present participle; 'aggravating circumstances' lead to an 'aggravated charge.'
Word family
- aggravate (verb): To make a problem or offense worse or more serious.
- aggravation (noun): The intensification of a negative quality or legal offense.
Collocations
- aggravated assault
- aggravated battery
- aggravated circumstances
- aggravated murder
Example sentences
- "The charge was raised to aggravated robbery because the perpetrator brandished a firearm." A police report on a robbery.
- "Aggravated assault is an assault that is committed with a deadly weapon or with the intent to commit a felony." Legal statute regarding sentencing.
Memory hook
Aggravated = Added Gravity. The crime is heavier/more serious. Added weight/severity.
When not to use
In general conversation, people use 'aggravated' to mean 'irritated.' Avoid this meaning in legal or criminology writing.
Fun facts
- The use of a 'deadly weapon' is the most common factor that turns a simple assault into an aggravated one.
- In common parlance, 'aggravated' is one of the most 'misused' words according to prescriptivist grammarians who insist it should only mean 'made worse,' not 'annoyed.'
Explore more words
aggravate, felony, exacerbate, punitive, malicious, escalation
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