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 The book also expands and updates the Memoriam rules to allow immortal vampires a chance to flashback to history to solve problems that vex them tonight. Rob Wieland, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 The biggest hurdle might be achieving her larger-than-life hair that has vexed fans and media alike. Chiara Kim, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024 This, in turn, caused people to desert the label in droves, furious that a streaming service had the power to dictate who got popular or vexed that new artists making emo rap and other genre-fusions were included. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2024 Nearly a century ago, the physicist Erwin Schrödinger called attention to a quirk of the quantum world that has fascinated and vexed researchers ever since. Ben Brubaker, WIRED, 22 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vex 

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 5 Nov. 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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