EXASPERATING Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

exasperating 1 of 2

adjective

ig-ˈza-spə-ˌrā-tiŋ

Definition of exasperating

as in frustrating

causing annoyance those exasperating details that come with almost any job

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exasperating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of exasperate

as in annoying

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts small children can exasperate their parents with endless questions about why this or that is so

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of exasperating

Adjective

What followed was often exhilarating and, from around season three onward, often just as exasperating. — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 25 June 2026 After several exasperating Zillow searches through Portland, Oregon’s increasingly expensive housing market, Gaby Colón and Daniel Quebral scrapped their plans for a traditional home and embraced the open road, buying a 315-square-foot home on wheels. — Jackie Cooperman, Architectural Digest, 16 June 2026

Verb

As a City Council member, Raman, whose previous campaigns were backed by Democratic Socialists of America Los Angeles, has sometimes walked a political tightrope, exasperating her progressive base on issues like policing. — Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026 Arne Slot has increasingly been exasperating Liverpool supporters by being — in typical Dutch style — too honest. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exasperating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exasperating

Adjective

Make no mistake, Sweeney inherits a talented but frustrating team.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Frustrating process to get assistance However, the new program will not launch until December, and some residents say a lack of clarity surrounding the assistance has made navigating the process frustrating.

— Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrating

Verb

That unexpected fandom has grown over the past two years, with unlikely converts taking to the internet’s alleyways to spread the good word—and, in the process, annoying the doubters.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.

— Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of annoying

Adjective

But for this initial step, Pierre tells mature patients to find a formula that’s gentle, non-irritating, and—if needed—able to remove makeup.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
The cold temperature will slow down the enzymes and ease the irritating effects.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of irritating

Verb

His work is autobiographical and based on whatever has been bothering him that year.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
For example, companies that benefit from customers not bothering to cancel subscriptions, compare prices, or search for better deals have taken a beating in recent weeks.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of bothering

Adjective

For Daughtry, who was dispatched to work the crash by his editor that day, the assignment was one of the most disturbing of his career.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
This disturbing contradiction suggests that different physical laws apply to the observer and the observed.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of disturbing

Verb

On Monday, a court granted the US government’s request to deny release of a former OpenAI engineer accused of bugging a top-secret conference room to steal the frontier lab’s secrets.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
However, in-flight cabin etiquette is only one part of what’s bugging travelers this summer.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of bugging

Verb

Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.

— New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.

— Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

Definition of persecuting

Verb

And those are things that end up aggravating behavioral health disabilities.

— Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
With Williams dealing with an injury that’s always tricky for players in this league, there’s no reason to rush him back and risk aggravating it again.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of aggravating

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exasperates

exasperating

exasperation

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“Exasperating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exasperating. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of exasperating

adjective

verb

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