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Exasperate Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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exasperate

[ษชษกหˆzรฆs.pษ™.reษชt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

to annoy or irritate intensely

To exasperate means to irritate or provoke someone to a high degree. It often involves causing frustration or anger by persistent actions or behavior.

Synonyms

aggravate, annoy, irritate, provoke.

Examples of usage

  • He was exasperated by her constant interruptions during the meeting.
  • The slow internet connection never failed to exasperate him.
  • The constant barking of the neighbor's dog began to exasperate the entire neighborhood.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • High levels of frustration can lead to stress responses, impacting both mental health and physical well-being.
  • Exasperation is often linked with feelings of helplessness, especially in situations perceived as out of one's control.
  • Repeated annoyance can lower patience levels, affecting relationships and social interactions.

Literature

  • Characters are often depicted as exasperated when faced with challenges that seem trivial yet persistently occur.
  • In many classic novels, protagonists experience exasperation as they navigate societal expectations or personal conflicts.
  • The word appears frequently in comedic literature, emphasizing the humor found in lifeโ€™s irritating moments.

Pop Culture

  • Exasperation is a common theme in sitcoms where characters often face ludicrous situations, such as misunderstandings or quirky neighbors.
  • Famous catchphrases in cartoons often showcase characters expressing exasperation in exaggerated ways, reflecting the emotion humorously.
  • The term is used in popular songs to convey the frustration of relationships, resonating with listeners who share similar experiences.

Everyday Life

  • Many people experience exasperation while dealing with technology failures, as gadgets often donโ€™t work as expected.
  • Parents often feel exasperated by their children's antics, especially when they repeatedly ignore simple rules.
  • Traffic jams and long lines are everyday scenarios that can exasperate even the most patient individuals.

Origin of 'exasperate'

Main points about word origin

  • Originates from the Latin word 'exasperare' meaning 'make rough or harsh.'
  • The prefix 'ex-' means 'out' or 'from', while 'asper' means 'rough,' indicating an intensification of annoyance.
  • The term has been in use since the late 14th century, evolving to refer more to emotional frustration.

The word 'exasperate' originated from the Latin word 'exasperare', which means 'to provoke, irritate'. It entered the English language in the late 16th century. Over the centuries, 'exasperate' has retained its meaning of causing annoyance or irritation.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,082 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.