Definition of vex
vexed
alsovext
play \ˈvekst\;vexing
transitive verb
1a : to bring trouble, distress, or agitation to the restaurant is vexed by slow serviceb : to bring physical distress to a headache vexed him all morningc : to irritate or annoy by petty provocations : harass vexed by the childrend : puzzle, baffle a problem to vex the keenest wit
2 : to shake or toss about
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Examples of vex in a Sentence
This problem has vexed researchers for years.
We were vexed by the delay.
Recent Examples of vex from the Web
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The struggles had vexed Cain, weighing on his mind.
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North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric, as well as regular missile and nuclear tests in defiance of United Nations resolutions, have vexed the international community.
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For a president not steeped in policy intricacies, the decision is vexing.
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Once finished, the Mobile Garage will be able to launch rockets, communicate with a drone and serve up a number of hands-on projects, like egg drop experiments and VEX robotics competitions.
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In another telling passage, Reid was vexed after one of his star artists Braxton filed a lawsuit to have her contract with LaFace voided and filed for bankruptcy, which Reid did not believe to be true.
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But spider venom's origin story has vexed biologists for years.
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With no fancy maps or even brains, immune system cells can solve a simple version of the traveling-salesman problem, a computational conundrum that has vexed mathematicians for decades.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vex'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of vex
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
Synonym Discussion of vex
VEX Defined for English Language Learners
VEX Defined for Kids
vex
playDefinition of vex for Students
vexed
;vexing
1 : to bring trouble, distress, or worry to “It is an excellent plan to have some place where we can go to be quiet, when things vex or grieve us.” — Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
2 : to annoy by small irritations Flies vexed the cows.
Learn More about vex
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See words that rhyme with vex Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for vex Spanish Central: Translation of vex Nglish: Translation of vex for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of vex for Arabic speakers
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