exasperate
Americanverb (used with object)
adjective
verb
-
to cause great irritation or anger to; infuriate
-
to cause (an unpleasant feeling, condition, etc) to worsen; aggravate
adjective
Related Words
See irritate.
Other Word Forms
- exasperatedly adverb
- exasperater noun
- exasperating adjective
- exasperatingly adverb
- exasperation noun
- unexasperating adjective
Etymology
Origin of exasperate
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin exasperātus (past participle of exasperāre “to make rough, provoke”), equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + asper “harsh, rough” + -ātus -ate 1
Compare meaning
How does exasperate compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Well, I wish somebody had told me that our dad was in a coming-out loop!” says an exasperated Richard, who is usually the one exasperating others.
"It looks like someone left it there, hopped off to whatever they were doing and never thought about the scooter again," he tells me with an exasperated sigh.
From BBC
Lara, the regulator, appears exasperated by some insurers’ reluctance to re-enter the market, despite getting pretty much everything on their wish list.
The problem goes well beyond homelessness: Thousands of severely ill people live with exasperated family members who wear themselves out trying to get help for loved ones.
From Los Angeles Times
Kura Sushi’s price bump comes as Americans are exasperated with paying more for food in grocery store aisles and when eating out.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
