Intensely frustrated and annoyed, especially by repeated problems or someone's persistent behavior. It involves a sense of being at the end of one's patience.
From Latin 'exasperatus,' past participle of 'exasperare' (to roughen, irritate), from 'ex-' (thoroughly) and 'asper' (rough). The word entered English in the 16th century with its sense of being thoroughly irritated.
Exasperation is frustration with a timeline - it builds through repeated exposure to the same irritating situation. It's your patience system sending a clear message that current coping strategies aren't working and something needs to change, which is why exasperated people often throw up their hands or dramatically sigh.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.