vex

verb

ˈveks 

vexed also vext ˈvekst  ; 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

Synonyms

• aggravate
• annoy
• bother
• bug
• burn (up)
• chafe
• eat
• exasperate
• frost
• gall
• get
• grate
• gripe
• hack (off)
• irk
• irritate
• itch
• nark [British]
• nettle
• peeve
• persecute
• pique
• put out
• rasp
• rile
• ruffle
• spite

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

Early in his bold and vexing new reality show, Jerrod Carmichael hears a knock at the door and opens it to find a very tall man in a ski mask and goggles just standing there. —Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 13 May 2024

The healthcare provided to people inside San Diego County’s seven jails is critical to preventing deaths in custody — a problem that has vexed the Sheriff’s Department for more than a decade. —Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2024

The lack of legal clarity has vexed defense lawyers and law enforcement officers — natural adversaries in the criminal justice system — who both say the current system can be confusing to navigate. —Jacob Resneck, Journal Sentinel, 10 May 2024

Intriguingly, Madison Avenue’s demands are likely to vex even the digital giants that have come to vacuum up some of the ad money that once went to TV. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 May 2024

The colt is the reigning 2-year-old champion and morning-line Derby favorite and perhaps Repole’s best chance to win a race that has utterly vexed him. —Joe Drape, New York Times, 3 May 2024

But, experts warn, the findings display far from a unanimous tilt towards China amid the great-power rivalry vexing the region. —Koh Ewe, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024

Local officials were perhaps most vexed by the cars. —Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024

The question seemed to vex the many passers-by who stopped to gape. —Priya Krishna, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024

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

Kids Definition

vex

verb

ˈveks 

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