exasperation

/ɪɡˌzæspəˈreɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪɡˌzæspəˈreɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ig-ˌza-spə-ˈrā-shən/ (ame, mw)

exasperation — noun

1. a strong, angry frustration that builds up when something keeps going wrong and

1.名詞C1
釋義

a strong, angry frustration that builds up when something keeps going wrong and you feel powerless to fix it — for example, when a printer jams for the fourth time before a meeting, or when a child refuses to put on shoes.

例句

Shanti threw her hands up in exasperation when the printer jammed again.

fixed phrase: in exasperation

There was clear exasperation in Joaquín's voice as he repeated the same instructions to the new intern.

collocation: exasperation in [someone's] voice

同義詞
  • frustration

    broader and more neutral; covers any blocked effort, not necessarily with anger.

  • irritation

    lower intensity; surface annoyance rather than the building, helpless quality of exasperation.

  • vexation

    more formal and literary; less common in everyday speech.

反義詞
  • patience

    calm acceptance of delay or repeated trouble — the opposite stance to exasperation.

  • composure

    outward calm even under provocation; the trait that prevents exasperation from showing.

文法句型

in exasperation

with exasperation

to someone's exasperation

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable; commonly appears in fixed prepositional phrases such as 'in exasperation', 'with exasperation', and 'to someone's exasperation'. Often paired with body-language verbs like 'sigh', 'groan', 'throw up [hands]', or 'roll [eyes]' to externalise the feeling.

常見錯誤

❌I have many exasperations today.
✅I am feeling a lot of exasperation today.
💡exasperation is uncountable; no plural form.
❌She shouted in exasperated.
✅She shouted in exasperation.
💡after the preposition 'in', use the noun, not the adjective.