These words refer to being annoyed, disturbed or incensed by or at something. Outrage points to the most intense or extreme response indicated by any of these words, but it may suggest the least direct emotional involvement in that one may be merely an onlooker rather than a participant or victim: outraged by the international outcry against our proposal. Thus the word can suggest attitudes of moral disapproval, prudery or haughty indignation at some displeasing display. Even where the word applies to one’s response to the actions of other, though seldom to what is done to oneself: outraged by his daughter’s extravagance. Occasionally, the word can suggest a more direct involvement; even here, it suggests response to behaviour or attitude rather than to physical or violent conflict: outraged by his repeated insults.

The formal exasperate and the slang word bug both introduce the personal element often lacking in outrage. Exasperate may suggest a final and complete breaking down of patience after repeated annoyance: so exasperated by his snoring that she went out and slept on the lounge. This notion of a build-up need not be present: extremely exasperated by the uncalled-for innuendo in the reporter’s question. In any case, the word emphasizes an angry though possibly momentary loss of calm or control: exasperated to the point of incoherence. Bug may refer as a slang or informal fad word to any displeased response to something annoying, whether the annoyance is intended as such or not: bugged by the garish colours in the room; bugged by his constant insinuating remarks about the way I dressed. The word may suggest a process of growing annoyance, some single instance of a rising gorge, or even a continuing philosophical attitude of disapproval: bugged by his wife’s heavy drinking month-in, month-out; an advertisement that really bugged me; those who are bugged by middle-class materialism. Also, the word can be used for a deliberate attempt to annoy someone else: trying to bug her about her dislike of housekeeping. The word differs in one respect from exasperate in that loss of control may or may not be implied; it can apply equally well either to a "slow-burn" reaction that never rises above passive disgruntlement or to an exasperated or outraged response.

Aggravate focuses more directly on a slow process of growing annoyance, but without suggesting that emotions have reached their boiling point. In this use it is extremely informal adaptation of the word, taken over from its reference to the worsening of an already bad situation: at first aggravated and finally maddened by the continual crying of the sleepless infant. Often the word is used more loosely: so aggravated by the reprimand that he wouldn’t speak to me for days after.