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exasperate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of exasperate

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 of exasperate

aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, irritate, itch, nark [British], nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex
Words Related to exasperate

hassle, heckle

nag

inflame (also enflame), provoke, rouse

badger, bait, bullyrag (also ballyrag), devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease

anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil

agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry

affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage
Phrases Synonymous with exasperate

get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on
Near Antonyms of exasperate

appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate

delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy

assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

Synonym Discussion of exasperate

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

Learn More about exasperate

  1. See words that rhyme with exasperate Dictionary: Definition of exasperate Spanish Central: Translation of exasperate Nglish: Translation of exasperate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of exasperate for Arabic speakers

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