as in to annoy
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exasperate
Six mutters and sighs and rolls his head as if profoundly exasperated.
—
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
These loud parties can devolve into violence, exasperating community leaders and the police.
—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Reaves shot 10 for 16 from the field and 3 for 6 from 3-point range to go with six assists, while James – who spent much of the game exasperated with the officials – added 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting along with six assists and three steals.
—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
His confirmation process was ugly, and some of his actions during his first few months on the job exasperated the White House.
—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exasperate
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
These loud parties can devolve into violence, exasperating community leaders and the police.
—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Reaves shot 10 for 16 from the field and 3 for 6 from 3-point range to go with six assists, while James – who spent much of the game exasperated with the officials – added 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting along with six assists and three steals.
—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
His confirmation process was ugly, and some of his actions during his first few months on the job exasperated the White House.
—
Michael Scherer,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exasperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exasperate
Verb
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Damian used to get annoyed with his father's motivational chats about responsibility.
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Three hours before the parade is set to begin, paradegoers are already annoyed at the disorganization and slow-moving lines.
Verb
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Residents were advised that while smoke may be irritating—particularly for those sensitive to air quality—there is currently no order for evacuation or shelter-in-place, despite a similar order already having been issued and lifted twice since the fire's ignition.
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Ammonia is a common industrial chemical that can irritate the eyes and respiratory system when present in elevated concentrations.
Verb
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Oh, and more often than not, nobody bothers to check whether the change intervention actually worked, or whether leaders improve their performance after all!
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The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up.
Verb
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Their drama is already stale, and between Nathan’s touchiness and Joe’s mistreatment of women, their fight over who is a better guy, a better seaman, a better worker, a better boyfriend is disengaging at best and aggravating at worst.
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Certain movements may aggravate the pain, such as, oh, swinging a golf club.
Verb
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Supporting people who have too often been, and continue to be, persecuted and othered would be a direct way to address the suffering.
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It's partially inspired by director Benjamin Christensen's research on the German text Malleus Maleficarum, a guide to witchcraft for inquisitors looking to persecute its perpetrators.
Verb
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The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
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His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
Cite this Entry
“Exasperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exasperate. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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