as in frustrating
causing annoyance
the constantly changing schedule was somewhat vexing, but I coped
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in annoying
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzling
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 vexing
Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
Why an audience member would want to return, though, would be an even more vexing mystery than whatever happened to Riley Brennan.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Reuters, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
At times, this intentionality has been vexing.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vexing
Adjective
The site brags that 30% of Fortune 100 companies use Catalant to solve vexing problems.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2025
Why an audience member would want to return, though, would be an even more vexing mystery than whatever happened to Riley Brennan.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
By pressing on with the second phase of the ceasefire, Washington and its mediator partners will need to tackle the vexing challenges of disarming Hamas, further Israeli withdrawal tied to the disarmament and deploying an international peacekeeping force.
—Reuters, NBC news, 16 Jan. 2026
At times, this intentionality has been vexing.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vexing
Adjective
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In his own work, the Governor has sought to smooth corners, frustrating some organizers.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Few dynamics in tennis are more frustrating than earning chances to break an opponent and then not even being able to start a point, especially in a major final.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Sometimes, rage bait can be relatively harmless – a recipe that contains disgusting food combinations or someone annoying their pet, partner or sibling.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
1 Dec. 2025
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But what’s been annoying me even more is that these women should have been trained by producers to start recording on their own cell phones if drama starts to unfold after cameras go down.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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This Upper Paleolithic burial even became famous, though puzzling to researchers, because the unusual skeletal remains were even disfigured.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
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But in recent years, Betelgeuse has thrown astronomers a few puzzling curveballs that have required serious detective work to solve.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s further dragged down by far too many irritating genre tropes to count.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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An irritating product or excessive use of active ingredients can quickly push skin into a state of hypersensitivity.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If your knee is bothering you, for instance, the vibration might distract your brain enough for the pain to temporarily retreat.—
Jennifer Heimlich,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
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Is a man bothering you at a bar?—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The pilot of a private jet reportedly made an eerie discovery while flying thousands of feet over Rhode Island, marking the latest in unexplained encounters baffling both experts and civilians alike.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
22 Dec. 2025
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From financial wipeouts to baffling misreads of beloved source material, some of Hollywood’s most notorious flops began as video games.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Some of those revelations are deeply disturbing.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
1 Feb. 2026
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These disturbing images raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That thing’s been bugging on him for a while.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
29 Dec. 2025
-
Then Julian dropped one of his wireless earbuds into Olympia’s purse, using it as a crude bugging device.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vexing. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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