noun

exasperation

ig-zas-puh-RAY-shun/ɪɡˌzæspəˈreɪʃn/

A feeling of intense irritation or frustrated impatience.

The man throws up his hands in exasperation at the jammed printer.

An older Black man throws both hands up in exasperation beside a home printer with a visibly crumpled sheet jammed in its output slot.

Etymology

exLatinthoroughly

+asperLatinrough

+ationLatinaction or state

The underlying image is making something thoroughly rough: the Latin verb meant both “roughen” and “provoke to anger.” The noun carries that physical roughness into the emotional state of intense irritation.

In context

Storytime Haven423:30

All this bitterness and wrangling--it’s all part of the same thing--part of our love for each other. It’s the exasperation, the rage, of frustration.

🌹 Angelica by Elisabeth Sanxay Holding | Classic Suspense Tale 🎭

More examples

His repeated interruptions fill me with exasperation.
I can hear the exasperation in your voice.
After another delay, her mild annoyance turns to exasperation.

Forms

exasperate verb — To cause intense irritation or frustrated impatience.

Similar words

irritation: Can describe milder annoyance without the same frustrated intensity.
frustration: Emphasizes being blocked from achieving something rather than intense annoyance.
impatience: Emphasizes difficulty tolerating delays rather than intense irritation.