EXASPERATE Synonyms: 100 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'exasperate' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of exasperate are irritate , nettle , peeve , provoke , and rile . While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience. // his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

Q: When might 'irritate' be a better fit than 'exasperate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to exasperate , irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage. // constant nagging that irritated me greatly

Q: When can 'nettle' be used instead of 'exasperate'?

In some situations, the words nettle and exasperate are roughly equivalent. However, nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging. // your pompous attitude nettled several people

Q: When is it sensible to use 'peeve' instead of 'exasperate'?

The meanings of peeve and exasperate largely overlap; however, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation. // a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

Q: In what contexts can 'provoke' take the place of 'exasperate'?

Although the words provoke and exasperate have much in common, provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action. // remarks made solely to provoke her

Q: When is 'rile' a more appropriate choice than 'exasperate'?

The words rile and exasperate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation. // the new work schedules riled the employees

exasperate

verb

ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrāt

Definition of exasperate

as in to annoy

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts small children can exasperate their parents with endless questions about why this or that is so

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word exasperate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of exasperate are irritate, nettle, peeve, provoke, and rile. While all these words mean "to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance," exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

his exasperating habit of putting off needed decisions

When might irritate be a better fit than exasperate?

While in some cases nearly identical to exasperate, irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

constant nagging that irritated me greatly

When can nettle be used instead of exasperate?

In some situations, the words nettle and exasperate are roughly equivalent. However, nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

your pompous attitude nettled several people

When is it sensible to use peeve instead of exasperate?

The meanings of peeve and exasperate largely overlap; however, peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.

a toddler peeved at being refused a cookie

In what contexts can provoke take the place of exasperate?

Although the words provoke and exasperate have much in common, provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

remarks made solely to provoke her

When is rile a more appropriate choice than exasperate?

The words rile and exasperate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

the new work schedules riled the employees

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of exasperate We have been puzzled, even exasperated at times, by the Heat’s level of patience with its roster over the past two seasons, particularly last year. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 Before Tuesday’s joint practice, Harbaugh was exasperated by the multiple questions asked from Chargers’ reporters about the left guard competition. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026 The result is a fascinating deconstruction of the documentary process, with Pretsell both charmed and exasperated by his mercurial and temperamental subject. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Aug. 2026 Over at Macquarie, Thierry Wizman and Gareth Berry also sound like they’re exasperated with the unending conflict. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for exasperate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exasperate

Verb

Returning the sarcasm tends to cause the same problem, with two people annoyed instead of one.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
Williams is annoyed and wants order while Kirke is hardly paying attention and lugs vases of flowers through her home.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoy

Verb

Gee, who used to pop into fraternity parties unannounced to keep tabs on them, said he is not bothered by the reintegration of the three formerly rogue organizations.

— Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
This is a dense picture—there’s almost too much to unpack, if you can be bothered to care about any of it.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of bother

Verb

Unfortunately, Delane aggravated a shoulder injury on that play and was unable to return to action in that game, the season opener at Arrowhead.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
The Yankees are also cautious about Judge on a turf field, which could further aggravate the injury.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of aggravate

Verb

Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of persecute

Verb

And as the team moved into the couple’s guest house on their San Diego rental property, the filmmakers feared that the home was bugged and ordered a device to try to de-bug it, without success.

— Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
He’s bugged Jay — the two met online and married two years ago before opening their first restaurant last year — to make sure that includes his crispy duck panang curry.

— Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of bug

Browse Nearby Words

exanimate

exasperate

exasperated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Exasperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exasperate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of exasperate

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes