exasperate

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes
US /ɪɡˈzæspəreɪt/ UK /ɪɡˈzɑːspəreɪt/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to irritate or annoy intensely

    His constant lateness began to exasperate his colleagues.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to irritate or annoy intensely irritateannoyinfuriateaggravatevexincenseprovoke
Word family
Related forms asperity

Etymology

From Latin exasperatus, past participle of exasperare ('to roughen, irritate'), from ex- ('thoroughly') + asperare ('to make rough'), from asper ('rough').

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