exasperate

[ verb ig-zas-puh-reyt; adjective ig-zas-per-it ]
/ verb ɪgˈzæs pəˌreɪt; adjective ɪgˈzæs pər ɪt /

verb (used with object), ex·as·per·at·ed, ex·as·per·at·ing.

to irritate or provoke to a high degree; annoy extremely: He was exasperated by the senseless delays.
Archaic. to increase the intensity or violence of (disease, pain, feelings, etc.).

adjective

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

Origin of exasperate

1525–35; < Latin exasperātus (past participle of exasperāre to make rough, provoke), equivalent to ex- ex-1 + asper harsh, rough + -ātus -ate1

synonym study for exasperate

1. See irritate.

OTHER WORDS FROM exasperate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH exasperate

exacerbate exasperate

Example sentences from the Web for exasperating

British Dictionary definitions for exasperating

exasperate
/ (ɪɡˈzɑːspəˌreɪt) /

verb (tr)

to cause great irritation or anger to; infuriate
to cause (an unpleasant feeling, condition, etc) to worsen; aggravate

adjective

botany having a rough prickly surface because of the presence of hard projecting points

Derived forms of exasperate

Word Origin for exasperate

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