VEXES Synonyms: 162 Similar and Opposite Words

vexes

verb

present tense third-person singular of vex

as in annoys

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me

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as in perplexes

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

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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 vexes As much as the parameter-less financial model of the modern major college athletic department vexes leaders, the realities of the transfer portal are a close second — because they are linked. — Mac Engel april 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2026 In flashbacks, viewers learn why Dorothy (Amanda Righetti) left an 11-year-old Lucy (Savannah Lumar) in Kay’s care, and how Lucy and Kay’s codependency continually vexes Dorothy. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vexes

Verb

That very same thing is what annoys Liz about Charles 500 years later.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
But Turner is a symbol for everything that annoys people about the Phillies.

— Matt Gelb, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Definition of annoys

Verb

This is why the sameness creeping into corporate communications right now bothers me more than the question of whether AI can write a good press release.

— Amanda Simonian, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about DoppelCart is how convincing these fake stores can look.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of bothers

Verb

This confuses each Nyota but also those around them, who note that the Nyotas have rather quickly assumed new hairstyles but also that neither is behaving quite like herself.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
Retreat to the previous paragraph if the question confuses you.

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of confuses

Verb

Knowing that Madame Lalouette’s sales numbers are too high to fire her, Carla attempts to transfer Madame Morel to a different department — a move that irritates her superiors and highlights her weakness.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.

— Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritates

Verb

As fans of the comedian know, Ali G is a streetwise interviewer whose hip hop slang often bewilders guests such as Noam Chomsky, Andy Rooney and Newt Gingrich.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 7 July 2026
The narrator and his wife find that their attachment to the charismatic and cryptic Chibi grows with the cat’s increasing visits, in a way that bewilders them but somehow bonds them closer together.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

Definition of bewilders

Verb

China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.

— Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

Definition of persecutes

Verb

Meanwhile, McGrew agreed to adjustments, including adding baffles to reduce sound from a attached generator for the tower and replacing tower fencing that incorporated barbed wire with taller, more natural looking fencing.

— Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
Using humane methods like squirrel baffles and tree nets can effectively keep squirrels out of your fruit trees.

— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 18 June 2026

Definition of baffles

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“Vexes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vexes. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of vexes

verb

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