as in frustrating
causing annoyance
those exasperating details that come with almost any job
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in annoying
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
small children can exasperate their parents with endless questions about why this or that is so
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exasperating
Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Jan. 2026
The 49ers beat the Bears 42-38 Sunday night in one of the more spellbinding and exasperating games in recent NFL history.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Arne Slot has increasingly been exasperating Liverpool supporters by being — in typical Dutch style — too honest.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exasperating
Adjective
But dropping the gloves can feel like an exasperating last act born of desperation and hopelessness - a door that slams behind you, leaves you in the dark and seldom reopens.
—Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Jan. 2026
The 49ers beat the Bears 42-38 Sunday night in one of the more spellbinding and exasperating games in recent NFL history.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Verb
As a City Council member, Raman, whose previous campaigns were backed by Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles, has sometimes walked a political tightrope, exasperating her progressive base on issues like policing.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Arne Slot has increasingly been exasperating Liverpool supporters by being — in typical Dutch style — too honest.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exasperating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exasperating
Adjective
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What’s especially frustrating is that this debate is being driven by politicians seeking to divide us, rather than families, coaches, and the people who are actually raising kids and protecting them.—
Mike Smith,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
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But that was not the mayor's most frustrating moment.—
Marcia Kramer,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sometimes, rage bait can be relatively harmless – a recipe that contains disgusting food combinations or someone annoying their pet, partner or sibling.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
1 Dec. 2025
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But what’s been annoying me even more is that these women should have been trained by producers to start recording on their own cell phones if drama starts to unfold after cameras go down.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In both Dream Scenario and The Drama, Borgli sides with the maligned, framing those who cast judgment as shrewish and needling (exemplified in The Drama with a deliciously irritating performance from Alana Haim).—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
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Here's where things get a bit irritating.—
Justin Pot,
PC Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Both players scored in double figures on Sunday, but Santos was ruled out against the Kings because of a pelvis injury that has been bothering him for weeks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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That boss who had sent Kim all those disturbing love letters and images.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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Magyar’s most disturbing similarity with Orbán is his personality.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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So, all the things people were yelling about with Southwest weren’t bugging me.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
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But so much of my journalism has been about something that’s bugging me.—
Jack Denton,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But so often left unsaid by Gu are the moral ambiguities that come with choosing to represent a country that has been heavily criticized by Human Rights Watch, among other watchdog groups, for denying rights of freedom of expression and for persecuting government critics.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
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The term refers to biblical passages in which Jesus described Jews in specific communities who were persecuting the early Christians.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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My ila facial was pure joy—no painful extraction or aggravating scrubs here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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There might be more than one bench spot to be won on the opening-day roster, as infielder Sung-Mun Song has not swung a bat since aggravating a right oblique strain on Sunday.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exasperating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exasperating. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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