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

• 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

But banishing the amusingly furious grumpiness of the character as written for and played by Danny DeVito flattens the friendship between him and Hercules because beyond a little early exasperation, the relationship – and by extension, the whole show – has no texture. —David Benedict, Variety, 24 June 2025

My friends and family, who tended to house these errant books, generally handled the influx with a mix of good-natured exasperation and resignation. —Jack Barlow, Christian Science Monitor, 18 June 2025

But as a hearing in federal bankruptcy court in Texas got underway on Thursday, things seemed to be going the other way, with all parties showing signs of exasperation, including the judge. —Tovia Smith, NPR, 6 June 2025

The techno synths layer it in nervousness and genuine exasperation. —Peter A. Berry, Variety, 22 July 2025

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