Exasperator

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. One who causes intense irritation or annoyance in others through persistent troublesome behavior or provoking actions
2. An individual who repeatedly triggers frustration or aggravation by creating difficulties or provoking responses in people
3. A person characterized by their capacity to incite vexation or displeasure in others through irritating or exasperating conduct

Etymology: "Exasperator" is a plain piece of English word-building: the verb "exasperate" with the agent suffix "-er" attached, giving a noun for a thing or person that exasperates. "Exasperate" itself comes from Latin "exasperare," made of "ex-" (thoroughly) and "asperare" (to make rough), from "asper" (rough). The Latin sense was literal roughening, and the figurative sense of irritating someone came later. The spelling "exasperater" appears as an alternative, reflecting the same suffix written with the "-er" ending rather than "-or." Because the formation is so transparent, the word needs no story of its own: anyone who knows "exasperate" can work out its meaning at once.

Synonyms: annoyer, irritator, provoker, aggravator, vexer

Antonyms: soother, comforter, peacemaker, calmer