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 exscite 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)