Exasperate, 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. To exsasperate them against the king of France. Addison.
2. To make grievous, or more grievous or malignant; to aggravate; to imbitter; as, to exasperate enmity. To exasperate the ways of death. Sir T. Browne.
Syn. -- To irritate; provoke. See Irritate.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Exasperate, a.
Exasperated; imbittered. [Obs.] Shak. Like swallows which the exasperate dying year Sets spinning. Mrs. Browning.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for exasperate; he lists it under affront.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.