"Exasperate" is a common, formal word with a very harsh tone.

Compared to synonyms like "irk," "annoy," and "irritate," it helps you emphasize how someone is getting more and more bothered over time, eventually losing their patience: losing their ability to be gentle or understanding.

Talk about one person exasperating another person, or about how one person is exasperated by or with another person doing something. "He's exasperated with people borrowing his red stapler and not returning it."

Or, say that someone is exasperated by, with, or over some problem, issue, result, or behavior. Or, say that someone is exasperated that something happened, or exasperated that something is true: "He's exasperated that his car broke down again." "I'm exasperated that some classroom teachers still use writing as a punishment."

"It took whoever answered a long time to bring Marion to the telephone. Henry stood patiently, gazing down at the floor; gradually his eyes began to wander, and after about five minutes he made an exasperated noise and looked up."
   — Donna Tartt, The Secret History, 1992

"The shortages have exasperated consumers who can’t find the new vehicles they want at depleted auto dealerships, forcing some to settle for used vehicles selling for abnormally high prices."
   — Michael Liedtke and Matt O'Brien, Associated Press, 10 February 2022

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If you have any questions about this word, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "exasperate" without saying "drive someone crazy" or "irritate."

try it out:

When I worked as a cashier at Eckerd, whenever an item's bar code wouldn't scan, I'd have to go check the price on the shelf. Inevitably, the customer would say, "It didn't ring up? It should be free!" It was funny the first time, unfunny the tenth time, and exasperating the hundredth time.

Talk about something that's happened to you so many times that you found it exasperating.

If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.)

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "Name that Sketchplanation!"

Check out the sketch below, created by Jono Hey at Sketchplanations.com.

Focus on the title, and see if you can come up with the word or phrase that belongs in the blurry spot. It'll be one we've studied before.

See the answer on the original Sketchplanation!

And if you like, review the word here.

review this word:

1. The opposite of EXASPERATE is

A. FORTIFY (to give people strength or courage).
B. MOLLIFY (to soothe or soften people's manners).
C. VILIFY (to speak harsh criticism about people).

2. According to the New York Times, an Amazon worker named Tara Jones wrote an exasperated letter to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, after _____.

A. he paid off her college debt
B. her paychecks were continually issued for less than she was owed
C. reluctantly deciding to leave the company for a slightly better position elsewhere

Answers to the review questions: 1. B 2. B

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.