exasperating 1 of 2

adjective

ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrā-tiŋ How to pronounce exasperating (audio)
Definition of exasperatingnext
as in frustrating
causing annoyance those exasperating details that come with almost any job

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exasperating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of exasperate
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

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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 exasperating
Adjective
With the Angels, Mozeliak not only must overcome a losing culture, but also navigate a relationship with Moreno, a challenge his predecessors found exasperating. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 30 June 2026 What followed was often exhilarating and, from around season three onward, often just as exasperating. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 June 2026
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
  1. frustrating
  2. annoying
  3. irritating
  4. bothering
  5. disturbing
  6. bugging
  7. persecuting
  8. aggravating
Adjective
  • Hogging pool loungers, blasting music, and blocking elevators are among the most frustrating cruise ship etiquette violations.
    — Kristy Tolley, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Is love in all its frustrating insufficiency enough to save us?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of frustrating
Verb
  • That unexpected fandom has grown over the past two years, with unlikely converts taking to the internet’s alleyways to spread the good word—and, in the process, annoying the doubters.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • But the current debate begins, like so many irritating conversations, with the 2016 election.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The process is used to transform raw, localized ingredients — such as rice, but also honey and soybeans — into more potent but non-irritating formulas that target cellular turnover and provide deep hydration by penetrating the skin more effectively.
    — Kati Chitrakorn, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • Bri reached basically the same conclusion without bothering with the cardio experiment.
    — Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
  • His work is autobiographical and based on whatever has been bothering him that year.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of bothering
Adjective
  • Gainey could not be reached for comment, but while the current O'Connor administration has been cooperating with investigators, Chief of Staff Dann Gilman said these revelations are disturbing.
    — Andy Sheehan, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Even at their most disturbing, scenes describing carnage tend to be colorful and amusing.
    — Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • The Department of Justice’s prosecution of a Saudi national for allegedly bugging an OpenAI conference room is causing anxiety among OpenAI employees, many of whom are foreign nationals.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • On Monday, a court granted the US government’s request to deny release of a former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging a top-secret conference room to steal the frontier lab’s secrets.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of bugging
Verb
  • Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
    — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
Definition of persecuting
Verb
  • And those are things that end up aggravating behavioral health disabilities.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • With Williams dealing with an injury that’s always tricky for players in this league, there’s no reason to rush him back and risk aggravating it again.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of aggravating

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Cite this Entry

“Exasperating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exasperating. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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