vexed also vext ˈvekst How to pronounce vex (audio) ; vexing

transitive verb

1
a
: to bring trouble, distress, or agitation to
the restaurant is vexed by slow service
b
: to bring physical distress to
a headache vexed him all morning
c
: to irritate or annoy by petty provocations : harass
vexed by the children
d
: puzzle, baffle
a problem to vex the keenest wit
2
: to shake or toss about
Choose the Right Synonym for vex

annoy, vex, irk, bother mean to upset a person's composure.

annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.

their constant complaining annoys us

vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.

vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.

careless waste irks the boss

bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.

don't bother me while I'm reading

Examples of vex in a Sentence

This problem has vexed researchers for years. We were vexed by the delay.
Recent Examples on the Web Recently, the story has been revisited by writers and filmmakers in a wave of media projects that has vexed Ms. Mendieta, the administrator of her aunt’s estate — particularly when the works appear to focus on the death. Kate Dwyer, New York Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Inflation and rising interest rates are pinching urban consumers Inflation is vexing consumers in several cities that sit near the top of the new WalletHub ranking, researchers said. USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 Therein lies the problem: The contract was ratified in November and GM has yet to commit to the timing or other details, leaving Ruddy vexed. Detroit Free Press, 13 Feb. 2024 As impressive as Murray was, he was vexed at the foul line just as much as his teammates. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2024 Vehicle pursuits are among the most dangerous activities law enforcement perform and the challenge of striking the right balance with them has vexed officials across the country. Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2024 Liu said one issue that vexed the department during its investigation was whether trapping the parrots violates any law. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023 Amazon and Walmart continue to make moves that look less like pure-play retail – which will continue to vex all the other pure-plays in the market. Nikki Baird, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 His eccentric upstairs lodger Coco (Rebecca F. Wright) is a COVID denier who’s a bad influence on Bahlul, further vexing Terry. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 23 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French vexer, from Latin vexare to agitate, harry; probably akin to Latin vehere to convey — more at way

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vex was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near vex

Cite this Entry

“Vex.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vex. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vex

verb
vexed also vext; vexing
1
: to bring trouble, distress, or worry to
vexed by thoughts of what could have been
2
: to annoy continually with little irritations
vexed by the children

More from Merriam-Webster on vex

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