exasperated 1 of 2

adjective

ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrā-təd How to pronounce exasperated (audio)
Definition of exasperatednext
as in annoyed
subjected to and reacting with irritation overworked, exasperated parents barking at their children over little things

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exasperated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of exasperate
as in irritated
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exasperated
Adjective
An exasperated Tomás enters the thicket himself to retrieve, among other items, Liam’s boot, and doesn’t emerge until the next day—not screaming, but fundamentally changed. — Nora Biette-Timmons, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026 Republican voters, the bulwark of the president’s political power, appear similarly exasperated. — David M. Drucker, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
Verb
The fans were exasperated with the police presence. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 9 June 2026 Richmond, exasperated, seems to have folded up Paine’s gift into quarters and buried it within his papers. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for exasperated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exasperated
  1. annoyed
  2. irritated
  3. angry
  4. bothered
  5. upset
  6. bugged
  7. aggravated
  8. persecuted
Adjective
  • Bad, fine, and stressed are obvious candidates, but your favorite might be overwhelmed, annoyed, or tired.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Economists and the commentariat, playing the role of the annoyed parent, point out that over-all employment has been strong for a while.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 28 July 2026
Definition of annoyed
Verb
  • But the idea has irritated California’s billionaire class, and some have left the state in protest or threatened to do so.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026
  • Hasslers, the researchers found, tended to be people who irritated the study respondents but whom the respondents could not escape.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of irritated
Adjective
  • Perhaps the Giants believe pitching angry benefits Houser, too.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Occupants of a residence on the 1400 block of 104th Avenue were angry at the auto body shop for parking lots of cars outside, loud noises and excessive garbage.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of angry
Verb
  • Zoe Saldaña, who also received a tribute, explained why she was bothered by political questions.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Previous reports suggested that Cruise wasn’t all that bothered by Suri’s decision.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothered
Adjective
  • Pasadena residents are upset after a bloodied peacock was found in their neighborhood last week after what appeared to be a violent encounter with a mail carrier.
    — Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Improved Digestion Bloating, constipation, acid reflux, upset stomach—all are uncomfortable signs of indigestion after eating.
    — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of upset
Verb
  • The indictment revealed that prosecutors had bugged the Aisenbergs' home for three months after Sabrina's disappearance.
    — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a law-enforcement agency known as NABU, had bugged Mindich’s apartment in Kyiv, and detectives picked up his conversations about Fire Point.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of bugged
Adjective
  • Oklahoma City saw increases in homicides, rapes and robberies, while aggravated assaults only decreased by eight year-over-year.
    — Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Chicago police said Lavonne Glenn, 32, has been charged with felony counts of first murder and aggravated assault.
    — Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of aggravated
Verb
  • Although the two programs similarly target humanitarian concerns, being a TPS holder does not guarantee asylum, which requires that applicants prove they’ve been persecuted on specific grounds.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.
    — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026
Definition of persecuted

Browse Nearby Words

exasperate
exasperated
exasperates
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exasperated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exasperated. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on exasperated

Nglish: Translation of exasperated for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All