exasperate - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
exasperate Word Meanings
- to irritate intensely
- to frustrate or annoy greatly
- to make worse or more severe
exasperate Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
exasperate Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ɪɡˈzɑːspəreɪt/
US
/ɪɡˈzæspəˌreɪt/
exasperate Word Etymology
ex- = out, asperare = to roughen; Latin → Old French → English. Imagine someone pulling out a tangled ball of yarn, making the mess rougher and more frustrating.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Exasperate means to irritate intensely, to frustrate or annoy greatly, or to make a situation worse or more severe. It conveys a strong sense of aggravation that comes from repeated problems or aggravating behavior, and is stronger than simple irritation but not as extreme as anger. It is commonly used with people or situations that push someone toward giving up or reacting with exasperation, and can be found in both formal writing and everyday speech when the speaker wants to underscore a high level of frustration.
Usage Reminders
- - It expresses strong, sustained irritation rather than a fleeting annoyance.
- - It is transitive: you exasperate someone, or a situation exasperates you.
- - It carries a somewhat formal or literary tone; in casual speech prefer 'annoy' or 'irritate'.
- - Noun form: exasperation.
- - Do not confuse with exacerbate (to make worse) in everyday use.
Common Misconceptions
- Mistaking exasperate for merely annoy or irritate in everyday, casual speech.
- Thinking it only describes people, not situations or noises that provoke frustration.
- Assuming it means to exhaust or wear out emotionally, rather than provoke strong irritation.
- Using it with passive form (exasperated by) without a clear agent.
- Confusing with exacerbate (to make worse) in all contexts.
Thinking Differences
In English, exasperate signals a formal or emphatic level of irritability beyond simple annoyance, often tied to repeated triggers. Learners typically overgeneralize it to any irritant or assume it replaces milder words like irritate; they also frequently confuse it with exacerbate, which means to worsen a situation rather than to provoke irritation.
Learning Tips
- Learn the exact sense: strong irritation, not just mild annoyance.
- Remember the noun form: exasperation.
- Use with people or situations that provoke repeated frustration.
- Differentiate from irritate, annoy, and exacerbate.
- Practice with synonyms and context-rich sentences to feel the nuance.
- Check collocations like exasperated with, exasperation at a situation.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'exasperate'?
A.To irritate intensely
B.To calm down
C.To entertain
D.To apologize
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'exasperate' correctly?
A.The delicious food exasperated me at the restaurant.
B.The difficult puzzle exasperated the child.
C.His calm demeanor exasperated the situation.
D.Her kind gesture exasperated her friend.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'exasperate'?
A.Aggravate
B.Soothe
C.Encourage
D.Comfort
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'exasperate'?
A.Annoy
B.Pacify
C.Appease
D.Infuriate
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context for the word 'exasperate'?
A.Frustrating traffic on the way to work
B.Enjoying a peaceful day at the park
C.Completing a challenging project
D.Having a pleasant conversation with a friend
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