I. igˈzaspəˌrāt, eg-, -zaas-, -zȧs-, usu -ād.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin exasperatus, past participle of exasperare, from ex- ex- (I) + asperare to roughen, irritate, from asper rough
transitive verb
1. : to excite or inflame the anger of : enrage
exasperate them against the king of France — Joseph Addison
often : to cause irritation or annoyance to
the general reader will … be exasperated at a certain cavalier curtness of narrative — C.H.Driver
she's a good child but her slowness often exasperates me
2. obsolete : to make grievous or more grievous or malignant
3. obsolete : to make harsh or harsher
intransitive verb
obsolete : to become irritated
Synonyms: see irritate
II. -_rə̇t, -ˌrāt adjective
Etymology: Latin exasperatus, past participle
1. : exasperated
2. biology : roughened with irregular prickles or elevations
an exasperate carapace
exasperate seed coats