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vexed 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvekst How to pronounce vexed (audio)
Definition of vexednext
as in annoyed
subjected to and reacting with irritation my dog was clearly vexed with me for having been gone all week, and hardly greeted me when I came home

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vexed

2 of 2

verb

variants also vext
past tense of vex
1
as in bothered
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me

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2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vexed
Adjective
How to do that was a very vexed and complicated problem. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 From his perspective, whatever happened was easily resolved — but working on a megahit can make matters more vexed. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
Verb
Over time, a group of shareholders became particularly vexed with Taj Hotels, which had managed the property since 2005. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026 Zinn in the years to come was vexed both morally and politically by the impersonality of the killing as a bombardier. — Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vexed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vexed
  1. annoyed
  2. bothered
  3. puzzled
  4. irritated
  5. bugged
  6. baffled
  7. exasperated
  8. persecuted
Adjective
  • Prominent royal commentators and people online were amused, annoyed or more by the couple’s belief that they should have been consulted before the letter went out.
    — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Issa acts on that notion by encouraging a threesome between herself, Paul Baker, and Anton, who has spent much of the episode getting increasingly annoyed about being left out of everyone else’s scheming.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of annoyed
Verb
  • She was treated with such indifference by the Bordens that, with the exception of Abby, no one bothered to learn her name, calling her by the name of their last servant, Maggie, instead.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
  • What’s bothered me, though, is how its backers have anchored their messaging around a lot of misleading generalizations about the state of college sports.
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of bothered
Verb
  • Researchers have been puzzled by the intricacies of the genome, especially noncoding DNA—the 98 percent of DNA that doesn’t code for specific proteins but still plays a major role in the body’s function.
    — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities were puzzled but eventually determined a leading cause.
    — Betsy Joles, NPR, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • Exosomes and irritated neurons Researchers and clinicians do not fully understand what causes post-herpetic neuralgia.
    — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026
  • An irritated Pitts hailed a cab and headed down the West Side Highway.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritated
Verb
  • The indictment revealed that prosecutors had bugged the Aisenbergs' home for three months after Sabrina's disappearance.
    — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a law-enforcement agency known as NABU, had bugged Mindich’s apartment in Kyiv, and detectives picked up his conversations about Fire Point.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of bugged
Verb
  • Her unconventional breakdancing moves during her final performance against Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič (B-Girl Nicka) baffled audiences at home and cemented her as a meme royalty.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Host Kara Robinson Chamberlain, a true crime influencer, kidnapping survivor and former law enforcement officer, investigated the killing that has baffled Liz's family, friends and the community for seven years.
    — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of baffled
Adjective
  • To get her the proper paperwork will require a detour from his schedule for the day, and there’s more than a little comedy, however subtly played by Zareh, in his exasperated response to this change of plans.
    — Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Despite riders growing ever more exasperated with having to race in extreme heat, the Vuelta a España race organizer is adamant that major changes to the cycling calendar will not be contemplated as a solution to combat excessive temperatures.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of exasperated
Verb
  • Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.
    — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Tates have denied all allegations and have claimed they are being persecuted for their views.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of persecuted

Browse Nearby Words

vexatious
vexed
vexes
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Cite this Entry

“Vexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vexed. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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