exasperate

1 of 2

verb

ex·as·per·ate ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrāt

exasperated; exasperating

Synonyms of exasperate next

transitive verb

: to cause irritation or annoyance to

It's a conundrum for any playwright: How do you enliven characters who alternately bore and exasperate each other?—

Michael Phillips

It's a demanding dining experience that may exhaust and exasperate some customers …—

Thomas Matthews

… they are just like any brothers who love and exasperate each other in equal measure …—

Allison Glock

: to excite the anger of : enrage

She did show favour to the youth in your sight only to exasperate you, to awake your dormouse valour, to put fire in your heart and brimstone in your liver.—

William Shakespeare

… no doubt he thought that such rigorous discipline as that might exasperate five hundred emigrants into an insurrection.—

Herman Melville

obsolete : to make more grievous : aggravate

exasperate

2 of 2

adjective

ex·as·per·ate ig-ˈza-sp(ə-)rət

: irritated or annoyed especially to the point of injudicious action : exasperated

: roughened with irregular prickles or elevations

exasperate seed coats

Choose the Right Synonym for exasperate

irritate, exasperate, nettle, provoke, rile, peeve mean to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance.

irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

Examples of exasperate in a Sentence

Verb The criticism of his latest movie is sure to exasperate his admirers. We were exasperated by the delays.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the 2020 debates, President Biden was exasperated at one point. —

ABC News, 19 May 2024 The lack of change exasperated Mr. Guidi, who came to see the Jungle as a reflection of Ithaca’s inability to get out of its own way. —

Photographs Todd Heisler, New York Times, 19 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for exasperate

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exasperate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin exasperatus, past participle of exasperare, from ex- + asper rough — more at asperity

First Known Use

Verb

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Adjective

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of exasperate was in 1534

See more words from the same year

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Exasperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exasperate. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

exasperate

verb

ex·as·per·ate

ig-ˈzas-pə-ˌrāt

exasperated; exasperating

: to make angry : annoy, irritate

Last Updated: 28 May 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

obstreperous

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

exasperate

verb

adjective

Did you know?

Did you know?

Synonyms

Examples of exasperate in a Sentence

Word History

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near exasperate

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition