exasperate

To exasperate is defined as to cause someone to become greatly irritated or annoyed.

(verb)

When you repeatedly poke someone while whining and yelling at him, this is an example of a situation where you are likely to exasperate him.

See exasperate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

Origin: < L exasperatus, pp. of exasperare < ex-, out, from + asperare, to roughen < asper, rough: see asperity

adjective

Origin: < L exasperatus: see exasperate

See exasperate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb ex·as·per·at·ed, ex·as·per·at·ing, ex·as·per·ates

To make very angry or impatient; annoy greatly.
To increase the gravity or intensity of: “a scene . . . that exasperates his rose fever and makes him sneeze” (Samuel Beckett).

Origin:

Origin: Latin exasperāre, exasperāt-

Origin: : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex-

Origin: + asperāre, to make rough (from asper, rough)

Related Forms:

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