Library / English Dictionary

EXASPERATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make worse

Example:

This drug aggravates the pain

Synonyms:

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate; worsen

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "exasperate" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "exasperate"):

irritate (excite to an abnormal condition, or chafe or inflame)

inflame (cause inflammation in)

cheapen; degrade (lower the grade of something; reduce its worth)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make furious

Synonyms:

exasperate; incense; infuriate

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "exasperate" is one way to...):

anger (make angry)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

exasperation (actions that cause great irritation (or even anger))

exasperation (an exasperated feeling of annoyance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exasperate or irritate

Synonyms:

aggravate; exacerbate; exasperate

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "exasperate" is one way to...):

anger (make angry)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will exasperate him

Derivation:

exasperation (actions that cause great irritation (or even anger))

exasperation (an exasperated feeling of annoyance)

Credits

 Context examples: 

She also might turn with disgust from him to the superior beauty of man; she might quit him, and he be again alone, exasperated by the fresh provocation of being deserted by one of his own species.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

She said it exasperated her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Why, she wanted a pair of blue boots for Sallie's party, so she just painted her soiled white ones the loveliest shade of sky blue you ever saw, and they looked exactly like satin, added Jo, with an air of pride in her sister's accomplishments that exasperated Amy till she felt that it would be a relief to throw her cardcase at her.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

If he had retorted or openly exasperated me, it would have been a relief and a justification; but he had put me on a slow fire, on which I lay tormented half the night.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

This, and many offers to lend him a knife for the purpose, exasperated him to such a degree, that the whole day was a succession of rushes on his part, and flights on the part of the boys.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I tried four times; finally an exasperated central told me the wire was being kept open for long distance from Detroit.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)