exasperated

adjective

ex·​as·​per·​at·​ed ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrā-təd How to pronounce exasperated (audio)
: having or showing strong feelings of irritation or annoyance
an exasperated sigh
Ricardo congratulated himself on having left his revolver behind. He was so exasperated that he didn't know what he might have done.Joseph Conrad
… she is the sort of curmudgeon who makes a point of trampling on flower beds when she goes for a walk, and greets the death of her longtime housekeeper … with a grim, exasperated roll of the eyes.Ben Brantley
exasperatedly adverb
"I keep telling them not to ring the doorbell!" said Sirius exasperatedly, hurrying back out of the room. J. K. Rowling
It's aggravation that motivates Tennison's signature tic: running her fingers exasperatedly through her short, faded blonde hair. Rand Richards Cooper

Did you know?

Exacerbate vs. Exasperate

Exacerbate is frequently confused with exasperate, and with good reason. Not only do these words resemble one another in spelling and pronunciation, they also at one time held exceedingly similar meanings. Exasperate is today most commonly used as a synonym of annoy, but for several hundred years it also had the meanings “to make more grievous” and “to make harsh or harsher.” Exacerbate is now the more common choice of these two words when one seeks to indicate that something is becoming increasingly bitter, violent, or unpleasant. It comes in part from the Latin word acer, meaning “sharp,” whereas exasperate is from asper, the Latin word for “rough.”

Examples of exasperated in a Sentence

overworked, exasperated parents barking at their children over little things
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Video footage shows two exasperated survivors being rescued on a smaller boat as choppy waters rock the vessel from side to side, illustrating the rough conditions at sea. Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025 Look at the red cheeks, pie-dish eyes, exasperated brows and open mouth. David Phelan, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 Phoenix assumes a pathetic and quietly arrogant demeanor as Joe, who speaks in a squeaky, exasperated cadence. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 17 July 2025 Later, in another team competition period, DeVries crouches near midcourt and brings the action to a stop with a string of exasperated, staccato whistles. Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for exasperated

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exasperated was in 1611

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Cite this Entry

“Exasperated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exasperated. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

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