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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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 exasperating
Adjective
Of course, that doesn’t mean the company — which is currently under intense financial pressure, probably explaining the whole exasperating situation in the first place — won’t just institute an even more aggravating popup that breaks the site for all users. — Jon Christian, Futurism, 30 Apr. 2026 This led to many exasperating discussions of the nature/nurture theories of my education. — Gilda Dangot-Simpkin, Sun Sentinel, 29 Apr. 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
  • There’s nothing more frustrating than booking a trip to paradise only to have your holiday consumed with bad weather.
    — Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • In a matter of seconds, the Current’s home victory over the NWSL’s top team turned into a frustrating draw.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
Definition of frustrating
Verb
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • The Manchester City star is fully back to his 2024 Ballon d’Or-winning self, marshaling the middle, providing amazing connection between the front and back and even annoying the French players with some gamesmanship near the end.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
Definition of annoying
Adjective
  • December 22 – January 19 A small adjustment could make your whole day less irritating.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • The irritating and inflammatory nature of the smog caused hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers to become short of breath or to develop symptoms from underlying heart disease.
    — Rebecca Florsheim, STAT, 17 July 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • Wasps are generally more interested in building their colony and finding food than in bothering people.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
  • But after going ahead, England manager Thomas Tuchel tried to shut the back door by throwing on countless defenders and not bothering to attack Argentina anymore.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of bothering
Adjective
  • Stuck together, wandering through thick green woods for days, the conversation between Sam and Paul drifts in an increasingly disturbing direction.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 22 July 2026
  • Wilde noted how Musk has perpetuated some of incel culture’s more disturbing ideology, particularly the belief that men are more powerful than nature.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 22 July 2026
Definition of disturbing
Verb
  • The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026
  • His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
    — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 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
  • This ensures your team can provide timely help to a client post purchase, rather than aggravating a situation.
    — Serenity Gibbons, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • That number has remained stubbornly static, aggravating inhumane consequences of long-term homelessness.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of aggravating

Browse Nearby Words

exasperates
exasperating
exasperation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exasperating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exasperating. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on exasperating

Nglish: Translation of exasperating 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 kludge

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
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
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All