exasperate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb exasperate or irritate
    aggravate; exacerbate.
  2. verb make furious
    infuriate; incense.
  3. verb make worse
    worsen; aggravate; exacerbate.
    • This drug aggravates the pain

WordNet

Ex*as"per*ate adjective
Etymology
L. exasperatus, p. p. of exsasperare to roughen, exasperate; ex out (intens.) + asperare to make rough, asper rough. See Asperity.
Definitions
  1. Exasperated; imbittered. Obs. Shak.
    Like swallows which the exasperate dying year Sets spinning. Mrs. Browning.
Ex*as"per*ate transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Exsasperated ; present participle & verbal noun Exasperating
Definitions
  1. To irritate in a high degree; to provoke; to enrage; to exscite or to inflame the anger of; as, to exasperate a person or his feelings.
    To exsasperate them against the king of France. Addison.
  2. To make grievous, or more grievous or malignant; to aggravate; to imbitter; as, to exasperate enmity.
    To exasperate the ways of death. Sir T. Browne.
    Syn. -- To irritate; provoke. See Irritate.

Webster 1913