exasperation

noun

ex·​as·​per·​a·​tion ig-ˌza-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the state of being exasperated

2

: the act or an instance of exasperating someone

Synonyms of exasperation

• headache
• frustration
• annoyance
• thorn
• nuisance
• worry

Examples of exasperation in a Sentence

They had all experienced the exasperation and frustration of holiday shopping.

add people who use cell phones inconsiderately to the list of daily exasperations

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s blood and insults and exasperation and pain and horror. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026

The skipper would alternate between tenderness and exasperation toward his first mate. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Aug. 2026

Of course, Boone’s exasperation came from watching the Yankees lose their second game in extra innings in a row to the Chicago White Sox, this time a 2-1 heartbreaker in 11 frames. — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Although the work was a critical favorite and a Pulitzer finalist, Eggers’s ironic tone struck some readers as overly precious—few books have inspired such devotion and exasperation in equal measure. — Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for exasperation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

exasperation

noun

ex·​as·​per·​a·​tion ig-ˌzas-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: extreme annoyance : anger

2

: a source of annoyance