1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to perplex
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vex
The change vexed opposing hitters on both sides of the plate and held batters to a .157 batting average.
—
Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025
And that’s the one thing that vexed Adelman and the Denver locker room.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
The ghost gun issue has been a particularly vexing one for California.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Moving it into Gaza has required continual, vexing diplomacy by the water authority.
—Claudine Ebeid, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vex
Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025
And that’s the one thing that vexed Adelman and the Denver locker room.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
The ghost gun issue has been a particularly vexing one for California.
—Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Moving it into Gaza has required continual, vexing diplomacy by the water authority.
—Claudine Ebeid, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vex
Verb
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But until Tuesday afternoon, four days out, there had been no announcement of what acts would be performing, or even where the show would be held The radio silence annoyed fans, who said so online.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2025
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Nearly one-half of Republicans (52%) are annoyed with how much attention is being paid to climate change vs. only 13% for Democrats.—
Robert G. Eccles,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Multiple current and former FDA officials said they were perplexed by Makary's claim, given the push for longer trips in the past had been an efficiency measure intended to result in the agency being able to complete more inspections.—
Paula Cohen,
CBS News,
6 May 2025
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Archaeologists were perplexed by a strange pair of discs found in Oman – only to discover these items were actually a single 4,000-year-old instrument.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Or Xander Schauffele, the defending PGA champion who is surely not bothered by the lack of attention on him early this week.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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That doesn’t mean the implication doesn’t bother him.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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These reactions are just the tip of the iceberg, as the football world continues to be bewildered at Sanders being available heading into the fourth round on Saturday.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2025
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Across the street, her husband Steve, who nursed Molly through her first fight with breast cancer a few years earlier, sits bewildered in the office of their couples therapist.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Use your hands: Since washcloths and sponges can irritate the skin, apply cleansers using your fingers, moving then over the skin in a circular motion.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
14 May 2025
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Aggressive or improper neck manipulation can irritate or compress nerves in your cervical spine, causing pain, numbness, muscle weakness, or tingling that radiates into your shoulders, arms, or hands.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
12 May 2025
Verb
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All of the footage from The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon makes the show-within-a-show look silly, which the series confuses with humorousness.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2025
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While no one should ever have confused the entertainment business with a warm binkie, the institutions themselves are in the new and awkward spot of having to justify their existence.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
12 May 2025
Verb
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No truly advanced society persecutes animals for sport.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 May 2025
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During its reign of terror, the Ustaše regime persecuted and murdered hundreds of thousands of Serbs, Jews and Roma, as well as Croatians opposed to their rule.—
Larry Luxner,
Sun Sentinel,
5 May 2025
Verb
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Some were baffled by Perry’s dancing and said the show looked cheap.—
Courtney Lane,
Kansas City Star,
11 May 2025
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The complexities of her character mirrored in her stony, resentful stare, in her grim, unforgiving mouth, will always baffle and enthrall.—
E.R. Zarevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vex. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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