exasperation
/ɪɡˌzɑː.spəˈreɪ.ʃən/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A feeling of great annoyance, especially when a problem keeps happening or nothing changes. It can also describe something that causes this feeling.
- She sighed in exasperation.
- His excuses caused exasperation.
- There was exasperation in her voice.
Adinary Nuance
Exasperation is stronger than irritation and usually shows that patience is almost gone. It is close to frustration, but frustration is more about not getting what you want; exasperation adds a sharper, more tired feeling. Writers often use it when someone is fed up with repeated trouble or delay.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự bực bội
- Spanish
- exasperación
- Chinese
- 恼怒
- Japanese
- いらだち
- Korean
- 짜증
Etymology
Exasperation comes from Latin exasperare, meaning “to make rough” or “to irritate.” It entered English through French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
in exasperationwith exasperationa look of exasperation
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is exasperation a formal word?
- It is fairly formal, but common in writing and spoken English.
- What is the difference between exasperation and frustration?
- Frustration is disappointment from blocked progress. Exasperation adds stronger annoyance.
- Can exasperation describe a person?
- Usually, it describes a feeling, expression, or voice, not a person.
- How do I use exasperation in a sentence?
- Use it for strong annoyance: “She spoke with exasperation.”