verb
exaspérer
exasperate
Faire ressentir une grande irritation ou agacer fortement quelqu’un.
Definition & meaning
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To exasperate or infuriate: to make someone extremely irritated or impatient.
- Son bruit constant m’exaspère. — “His constant noise exasperates me.”
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To intensify or aggravate: to make a feeling, conflict, or condition more severe.
- Cette décision a exaspéré les tensions. — “This decision intensified the tensions.”
Grammar & Word origin
Exaspérer is a regular -er verb, usually followed by a direct object. Its stem changes from é to è in some forms: j’exaspère, but nous exaspérons.
It comes from Latin exasperare, meaning “to make rough” or “to irritate,” formed from ex- and asper (“rough”).
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- agacer — to annoy; generally less intense.
- irriter — to irritate; can be milder or more gradual.
- exacerber — to exacerbate; used mainly for intensifying a problem or feeling.
Antonyms
- apaiser — to calm a person or soothe a feeling.
- calmer — to calm someone or reduce agitation.
- atténuer — to lessen the intensity of a feeling or problem.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Ce bruit va exaspérer maman.verb
This noise is going to exasperate mom.
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