noun

1. The act of aggravating, or making worse; used of evils, natural or moral; the act of increasing in severity or heinousness; something additional to a crime or wrong and enhancing its guilt or injurious consequences.

2. Exaggerated representation.

3. An extrinsic circumstance or accident which increases the guilt of a crime or the misery of a calamity.

Synonyms: exacerbation