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View synonyms for exasperate

exasperate

[ ig-zas-puh-reyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·as·per·at·ed, ex·as·per·at·ing.
  1. to irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely:

    He was exasperated by the senseless delays.

    Synonyms: infuriate, inflame, vex, anger, provoke, incense

  2. Archaic. to increase the intensity or violence of (disease, pain, feelings, etc.).

    Synonyms: exacerbate



adjective

  1. Botany. rough; covered with hard, projecting points, as a leaf.

exasperate

/ ɪɡˈzɑːspəˌreɪt /

verb

  1. to cause great irritation or anger to; infuriate
  2. to cause (an unpleasant feeling, condition, etc) to worsen; aggravate
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. botany having a rough prickly surface because of the presence of hard projecting points
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • exˌasperˈation, noun
  • exˈasperˌater, noun
  • exˈasperˌatedly, adverb
  • exˈasperˌating, adjective
  • exˈasperˌatingly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • ex·as·per·at·er noun
  • ex·as·per·at·ing·ly adverb
  • un·ex·as·per·at·ing adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of exasperate1

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin exasperātus (past participle of exasperāre “to make rough, provoke”), equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + asper “harsh, rough” + -ātus -ate 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of exasperate1

C16: from Latin exasperāre to make rough, from asper rough
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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

He could exasperate editors with his strongly held opinions and his prodigal ways with an expense account.

Panjabi portrays Reena’s mother, Suman, a reserved but resolute woman and member of the Jehovah’s Witness faith who runs a home with rules that exasperate her eldest child.

The issues exasperate many of the remaining businesses.

He opposed a civil rights bill before Congress in 1874 because it might “exasperate the Southern people” and “endanger the lives of the blacks.”

From Slate

Penn State has four 11-win seasons since 2016 under Franklin, but here are the numbers that exasperate Nittany Lions fans: 1-9 against Ohio State; 3-16 vs. top-10 teams; 1-13 vs.

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