irritate, exasperate, nettle, provoke, rile, peeve mean to excite a feeling of anger or annoyance.

irritate implies an often gradual arousing of angry feelings that may range from mere impatience to rage.

exasperate suggests galling annoyance and the arousing of extreme impatience.

nettle suggests a sharp but passing annoyance or stinging.

provoke implies an arousing of strong annoyance that may excite to action.

rile implies inducing an angry or resentful agitation.

peeve suggests arousing fretful often petty or querulous irritation.