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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Deadline has previously reported that the edit — first questioned in a memo from board advisor Michael Prescott — vexed directors. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 19 June 2026 House Democrats are betting that a future Speaker Hakeem Jeffries wouldn’t struggle with the type of aisle-crossing rebellion that’s often vexed current Speaker Mike Johnson. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 June 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
  • Economists and the commentariat, playing the role of the annoyed parent, point out that over-all employment has been strong for a while.
    — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 28 July 2026
  • Whatever the yellow jersey’s feelings, teams were annoyed, often more privately than publicly.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of annoyed
Verb
  • That bothered Duncan, because direct attack can be dangerous in extreme fire conditions.
    — Murphy Woodhouse, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Brown was asked Thursday what bothered him about the process.
    — Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothered
Verb
  • Tempo coach Sandy Brondello seemed puzzled by the absence of violet.
    — Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Analysts were puzzled by both the news itself, as well as the timing of it.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • Royal biographer Tina Brown went as far as to suggest that Charles is growing increasingly irritated with William.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 27 July 2026
  • Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve, which passes through a tunnel on the inside of the elbow, becomes inflamed, swollen and irritated, Johns Hopkins explains.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2026
Definition of irritated
Verb
  • 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
  • The group alleged that as well as hacking their phones, journalists from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday tapped landlines and bugged houses and cars.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026
Definition of bugged
Verb
  • She is baffled by the way her friends Moe and Fumina rail against their parents, especially when Yuko is always holding back at home, forever walking on eggshells.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Al Roker was baffled to come face to face with his doppelgänger on the Today show plaza.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of baffled
Adjective
  • These were voices—complaining, confiding, exasperated, distressed—that had not been heard before, as if the novel were a speaking tube cued to an underground rumble.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Jack Loder, a clearly exasperated digital content producer for the Giants’ flagship station KNBR, posted a two-minute video on X shortly after the game that singled out Webb for criticism.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of exasperated
Verb
  • Although the two programs similarly target humanitarian concerns, being a TPS holder does not guarantee asylum, which requires that applicants prove they’ve been persecuted on specific grounds.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.
    — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026
Definition of persecuted

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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 10 Aug. 2026.

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