Synonyms of exasperate

exasperate 1 of 3

verb (1)

ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrāt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoy
• irritate
• bother
• aggravate
• persecute
• bug
• infuriate
• irk
• vex
• rile
• spite
• anger
• get
• worry
• chafe
• eat
• pique
• provoke
• burn (up)
• itch
• gripe
• grate
• ruffle
• tease
• get to
• frost
• wear on
• nark
• insult
• gall
• plague
• hack (off)
• peeve
• put out
• nettle
• rub the wrong way
• enrage
• rasp
• offend
• inflame
• harass
• nag
• rouse
• upset
• get on one's nerves
• stick in one's craw
• unsettle
• set one's teeth on edge
• antagonize
• heckle
• get one's goat
• hassle
• agitate
• pester
• distress
• perturb
• outrage
• discomfort
• devil
• rankle
• discompose
• disquiet
• badger
• roil
• unhinge
• affront
• harry
• madden
• bait
• undo
• exercise
• fret
• incense
• freak (out)
• bullyrag
• miff
• hagride

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appease
• placate
• pacify
• oblige
• conciliate
• please
• delight
• satisfy
• gratify
• mollify
• propitiate
• assure
• reassure
• soothe
• cheer
• gladden
• comfort
• content
• console
• quiet
• solace

exasperating

2 of 3

adjective

ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrā-tiŋ 

as in frustrating

causing annoyance

those exasperating details that come with almost any job

Synonyms & Similar Words

• frustrating
• annoying
• irritating
• disturbing
• aggravating
• maddening
• irksome
• vexing
• painful
• vexatious
• bothersome
• abrasive
• nettlesome
• pesky
• pestiferous
• pestilential
• galling
• infuriating
• rebarbative
• nettling
• distractive
• plaguey
• stressful
• peeving
• pesty
• troubling
• pestilent
• carking
• troublesome
• chafing
• rankling
• riling
• burdensome
• mischievous
• importunate
• disquieting
• displeasing
• tiresome
• discomforting
• upsetting
• distressing
• biting
• enraging
• offensive
• worrisome
• trying
• angering
• inconveniencing
• importune
• thorny
• jarring
• bratty
• brattish
• grating
• spiny
• jangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasing

exasperating

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

• annoying
• irritating
• bothering
• bugging
• persecuting
• aggravating
• infuriating
• vexing
• getting
• irking
• worrying
• grating
• nettling
• angering
• galling
• griping
• itching
• eating
• burning (up)
• ruffling
• riling
• chafing
• spiting
• teasing
• insulting
• plaguing
• rasping
• peeving
• hacking (off)
• frosting
• provoking
• piquing
• getting to
• narking
• wearing on
• enraging
• putting out
• upsetting
• harassing
• maddening
• nagging
• rubbing the wrong way
• sticking in one's craw
• getting on one's nerves
• unsettling
• setting one's teeth on edge
• hassling
• heckling
• getting one's goat
• rousing
• badgering
• offending
• distressing
• disquieting
• pestering
• discomforting
• antagonizing
• inflaming
• agitating
• harrying
• perturbing
• outraging
• baiting
• incensing
• roiling
• rankling
• affronting
• undoing
• unhinging
• fretting
• exercising
• bullyragging
• freaking (out)
• deviling
• hagriding
• miffing
• discomposing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obliging
• gratifying
• satisfying
• pacifying
• conciliating
• placating
• appeasing
• pleasing
• delighting
• reassuring
• comforting
• mollifying
• assuring
• propitiating
• soothing
• cheering
• consoling
• quieting
• contenting
• gladdening
• solacing

Synonym Chooser

How is the word exasperate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of exasperate are irritate, nettle, peeve, provoke, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

When might irritate be a better fit than exasperate?

While in some cases nearly identical to exasperate, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

When can nettle be used instead of exasperate?

In some situations, the words nettle and exasperate are roughly equivalent. However, nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

When is it sensible to use peeve instead of exasperate?

The meanings of peeve and exasperate largely overlap; however, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

In what contexts can provoke take the place of exasperate?

Although the words provoke and exasperate have much in common, provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

When is rile a more appropriate choice than exasperate?

The words rile and exasperate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of exasperate

Verb

They’re all exasperated by Craig. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026

The judge said he was exasperated. —Emerson Clarridge updated February 17, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Feb. 2026

Adjective

But dropping the gloves can feel like an exasperating last act born of desperation and hopelessness - a door that slams behind you, leaves you in the dark and seldom reopens. —Aaron Davis, Sacbee.com, 2 Jan. 2026

The 49ers beat the Bears 42-38 Sunday night in one of the more spellbinding and exasperating games in recent NFL history. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025

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