aggrieved

What does “aggrieved” mean?

adjective.feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated.

SAT Usage

This term often appears in contexts involving justice, legal disputes, or personal grievances. It emphasizes a sense of injustice and emotional pain stemming from perceived unfair treatment, distinguishing it from words like "angry," which may lack the connotation of victimization or injustice.

Common Confusions

Aggrieved implies a feeling of victimization due to unfair treatment, while resentful usually suggests a more general feeling of displeasure without the specific connotation of having been wronged.

Example Sentences

• I am aggrieved at the conditions which have been forced upon me.

• The aggrieved person may present their petition to the court for review.

• The aggrieved employees filed a complaint about unfair treatment.

Word Parts: How to Remember “aggrieved”

Break “aggrieved” into its parts: ad- (to, toward). Knowing roots like these helps you decode unfamiliar SAT vocabulary.

• Prefix: ad- to, toward (Latin)