exasperate

exasperate
    v 1: exasperate or irritate [syn: {exacerbate}, {exasperate},
         {aggravate}]
    2: make furious [syn: {infuriate}, {exasperate}, {incense}]
    3: make worse; "This drug aggravates the pain" [syn: {worsen},
       {aggravate}, {exacerbate}, {exasperate}] [ant: {ameliorate},
       {amend}, {better}, {improve}, {meliorate}]
    

Exasperate \Ex*as"per*ate\, a. [L. exasperatus, p. p. of
   exsasperare to roughen, exasperate; ex out (intens.) +
   asperare to make rough, asper rough. See {Asperity}.]
   Exasperated; imbittered. [Obs.] --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         Like swallows which the exasperate dying year
         Sets spinning.                           --Mrs.
                                                  Browning.
   [1913 Webster]
    

Exasperate \Ex*as"per*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Exsasperated};
   p. pr. & vb. n. {Exasperating}.]
   1. To irritate in a high degree; to provoke; to enrage; to
      excite or to inflame the anger of; as, to exasperate a
      person or his feelings.
      [1913 Webster]

            To exsasperate them against the king of France.
                                                  --Addison.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To make grievous, or more grievous or malignant; to
      aggravate; to imbitter; as, to exasperate enmity.
      [1913 Webster]

            To exasperate the ways of death.      --Sir T.
                                                  Browne.

   Syn: To irritate; provoke. See {Irritate}.
        [1913 Webster]
    

72 Moby Thesaurus words for "exasperate":
      TB, aggravate, agitate, annoy, arouse, badger, bait, be at,
      bedevil, beset, bother, bristle, brown off, bug, bullyrag, burn up,
      chafe, chivy, consumption, devil, discompose, distemper, disturb,
      dog, embitter, exercise, fash, fret, gall, get, gripe, harass,
      harry, heckle, hector, hound, huff, incense, inflame, irk,
      irritate, miff, molest, nag, needle, nettle, nudzh, peeve,
      persecute, pester, pick on, pique, plague, pluck the beard, pother,
      provoke, rankle, ride, rile, roil, ruffle, set up, stir the blood,
      stir up, tease, torment, trouble, try the patience, tweak the nose,
      vex, work up, worry