exasperation

noun

ex·​as·​per·​a·​tion ig-ˌza-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the state of being exasperated

2

: the act or an instance of exasperating someone

Synonyms

• aggravation
• aggro [British]
• annoyance
• bother
• botheration
• bugbear
• frustration
• hair shirt
• hassle
• headache
• inconvenience
• irk
• irritant
• nuisance
• peeve
• pest
• rub
• ruffle
• thorn
• trial
• vexation

Examples of exasperation in a Sentence

They had all experienced the exasperation and frustration of holiday shopping.

add people who use cell phones inconsiderately to the list of daily exasperations

Recent Examples on the Web

The midfielder, born in the north Liverpool suburb of West Derby and part of the academy since the age of five, still set up two of Everton’s three goals, but there were moments of visible frustration and several cries of exasperation when his runs forward were not found by a team-mate. —Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025

In Los Angeles, residents displaced by the fires watched in exasperation as the unfolding disaster was politicized. —David Gelles, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025

Chantelle demands, love and exasperation in her voice. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2025

Taylor Swift has since become a fixture at Chiefs games, with NFL broadcasts often focusing on her presence, much to the exasperation of some football fans. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

exasperation

noun

ex·​as·​per·​a·​tion ig-ˌzas-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: extreme annoyance : anger

2

: a source of annoyance