irritate

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.

• • constant nagging that irritated me greatly

exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

• • his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

• • your pompous attitude nettled several people

provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

• • remarks made solely to provoke her

rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

• • the new work schedules riled the employees

peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

• • a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie