Basic Details
Word: Exasperate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To annoy or irritate someone greatly.
Synonyms: Irritate, annoy, vex
Antonyms: Soothe, calm, please
Idioms and Phrases
- At the end of one's rope: To feel that you can no longer cope with a situation. Example: "She was at the end of her rope after trying to fix the computer all day."
- Push someone's buttons: To do or say something that irritates or annoys someone deliberately. Example: "He knows how to push my buttons when he refuses to clean his room."
Usage Examples
Example 1: It can exasperate teachers when students repeatedly forget their homework.
Example 2: I was exasperated by the constant noise coming from the construction site next door.
Example 3: Her habit of leaving the lights on all night began to exasperate her roommates.
Fun Fact
The word "exasperate" comes from the Latin word "exasperare," which means "to make rough" or "to irritate." Its usage in English can be traced back to the late 16th century.
Famous Quote
"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." Elisabeth Foley. (Though this quote does not mention exasperate directly, the spirit of true friendships is to not exasperate each other, reflecting understanding and patience).
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "exasperate" mean?
a) To make someone very happy
b) To annoy or irritate someone greatly
c) To encourage someone
d) To impress someone
Answer: b) To annoy or irritate someone greatly
2. Which of these is a synonym of "exasperate"?
a) Calm
b) Soothe
c) Vex
d) Please
Answer: c) Vex
3. Which word is the opposite of "exasperate"?
a) Annoy
b) Irritate
c) Soothe
d) Vex
Answer: c) Soothe
4. Which sentence uses "exasperate" correctly?
a) The teacher was exasperated when all the students did well on the test.
b) The constant interruptions began to exasperate her.
c) He felt exasperated when he won the competition.
d) She exasperated a beautiful painting.
Answer: b) The constant interruptions began to exasperate her.
5. Which idiom relates to the feeling of "exasperate"?
a) At the end of one's rope
b) A piece of cake
c) As cool as a cucumber
d) Cat's out of the bag
Answer: a) At the end of one's rope
