exasperate

verb ex·as·per·ate \ ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrāt \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

Definition of exasperate

exasperated; exasperating

transitive verb

1 a : to excite the anger of : enrage

b : to cause irritation or annoyance to

2 obsolete : to make more grievous : aggravate

—

exasperatedly

adverb

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exasperatingly

play \ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrā-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

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Examples of exasperate in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of exasperate from the Web

Williams, godmother to the girl’s mother, was clearly exasperated over how something so trivial as bickering on Facebook could turn so tragic.

— holly v. hays, Indianapolis Star, "'Killing is not the answer,' family friend of slain 1-year-old says," 29 Mar. 2018
But the continuing delays and breakdowns have exasperated many riders.

— winnie hu, New York Times, "New York Subway’s On-Time Performance Hits New Low," 19 Mar. 2018
Figure skater Ashley Wagner was exasperated when the scores were handed down at the U.S. Championships in San Jose, which isn’t strictly speaking a trials but usually operates that way.

— martin rogers, USA TODAY, "Coming so close to making Olympic team is little consolation to these athletes," 7 Feb. 2018
Some friends, like Cunningham, exasperated, pulled back in hopes that Adam would finally help himself.

— christopher solomon, Outside Online, "The Boy Who Lived on Edges," 22 Mar. 2018
Srinivasan was exasperated by McLachlan’s critique.

— neil vigdor, courant.com, "Gratitude And Differing Accounts Of A Candidate's Health Scare," 20 Mar. 2018
Iraq is also in the midst of an economic crisis sparked by a global downturn in oil prices and exasperated by years of corruption and waste.

— Washington Post, "IS bodies still litter Mosul’s Old City months after battle," 7 Mar. 2018
Seek a Circle In many cases, the struggle to silence a busy brain can be exasperated by a lack of like-minded company.

— newsweek special edition, Newsweek, "Finding Your Zen Zone," 23 Feb. 2018
Tabula Rasa is frustrated with tropes, much like Mie is exasperated by her own devolution.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Is Tabula Rasa The New The OA?," 15 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exasperate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of exasperate

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

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First Known Use: 1534

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exasperate Synonyms

Phrases

get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on;

Synonym Discussion of 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.