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exasperate

exasperate [verb ig-zas-puh-reyt; adjective ig-zas-per-it] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin 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 Related formsex·as·per·at·ed·ly, adverbex·as·per·at·er, nounex·as·per·at·ing·ly, adverbun·ex·as·per·at·ed, adjectiveun·ex·as·per·at·ing, adjectiveCan be confusedexacerbate exasperateSynonyms for exasperate 1. incense, anger, vex, inflame, infuriate. 2. exacerbate.Synonym study 1. See irritate. Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019 Examples from the Web for exasperatedly Historical Examples of exasperatedly

“For Heaven’s sake, don’t shout it,” Miss Georgie interrupted, exasperatedly.

Good Indian

B. M. Bower

He was exasperatedly conscious that he could not quite have sworn to him.

In Connection with the De Willoughby Claim

Frances Hodgson Burnett

“But you don’t understand,” insisted Pauline, exasperatedly.

The Adventures of a Widow

Edgar Fawcett

It plays itself out quite consistently on the plane of her general, her instinctive, her exasperatedly conscious ones.

Lady Barbarina

Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for exasperatedly exasperate 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 Formsexasperatedly, adverbexasperater, nounexasperating, adjectiveexasperatingly, adverbexasperation, nounWord Origin for exasperate C16: from Latin exasperāre to make rough, from asper rough 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 Word Origin and History for exasperatedly exasperate v.

1530s, from Latin exasperatus, past participle of exasperare “roughen, irritate, provoke,” from ex- “thoroughly” (see ex-) + asper “rough” (see asperity). Related: Exasperated; exasperating.