vex
Americanverb (used with object)
-
vexes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
vexed,
past participle, past
-
vexing
present participle
-
His noisy neighbors often vexed him.
- Antonyms:
- delight
-
to torment; trouble; distress; plague; worry.
Lack of money vexes many.
Her arthritis vexed her all night.
-
to confuse or bewilder; confound.
The formula vexes most of our students at first.
-
to discuss or debate (a subject, question, etc.) with vigor or at great length.
They vexed the question endlessly without agreeing.
-
to disturb by motion; stir up; toss about.
verb
-
to anger or annoy
-
to confuse; worry
-
archaic to agitate
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
vexsimple
-
vexessimple
-
have vexedperfect
-
has vexedperfect
-
am vexingprogressive
-
are vexingprogressive
-
is vexingprogressive
-
have been vexingperfect progressive
-
has been vexingperfect progressive
Past
-
vexedsimple
-
had vexedperfect
-
was vexingprogressive
-
were vexingprogressive
-
had been vexingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of vex
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English vexen, from Old French vexer, from Latin vexāre “to shake, jolt, harass, annoy,” frequentative of vehere “to carry, convey”
Explanation
If something vexes you, it brings you trouble or difficulty. In other words, it annoys, worries, distresses, irritates, bothers, or puzzles you. Vex can be used as an adjective: for example, a vexing issue is not easily solved. The verb vex, the corresponding adjective vexatious, and the noun vexation are all slightly old-fashioned though still in current use. Vex descends through Middle English from Latin vexare, "to shake, attack, trouble."
Vocabulary lists containing vex
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A few of those sightings have continued to vex military investigators.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 22, 2026
In those cases, cyclists either ride in the “door zone,” the 2- to 3-foot corridor next to a parked car, or take up the full lane, which may vex testy drivers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2023
These poor circumstances vex artists, despite optimism by curators and others who say more and more Ugandans are starting to appreciate art as an attractive investment option.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 15, 2023
Among his more personal observations are the things that seem to vex him.
From National Geographic ● Nov. 16, 2023
“You vex with us for making you send the creature away? It’s a lot to deal with, what happened. You want to talk about it?”
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
One thing that vexes customers and employees are the expiration dates, which can vary from one week to a month.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 15, 2025
It is this uncertainty that vexes political pundits and campaign strategists alike.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2024
Regarding the Dec. 4 Metro article “Metro’s focus on evasion vexes kids”:
From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2022
He even puts up a poster decreeing “No eating people” in his apartment, which vexes Venom mightily.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 30, 2021
“Indeed, sorrow for his father vexes his spirit, making him quite melancholy,” said Horatio.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Ever since, the Middle East has flummoxed and vexed American presidents.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
A multiday music festival on the beach is a SoCal dream that has tantalized and vexed concert promoters for generations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
But along with the surge in tourism comes misbehaviour that has vexed locals and Balinese authorities.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
But at the time, a teenage Adrian, hoping to break into the more commercial side of the film business, was vexed by his father’s reluctance to pursue Hollywood money-makers.
From Salon ● Jul. 24, 2026
Those facts of reproductive biology vexed early farmers, because, as soon as they had located a productive mutant plant, its offspring would cross-breed with other plant individuals and thereby lose their inherited advantage.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
She also believed that Oklahoma’s justice system had thrown the book at Walters as a convenient way to clear a vexing case.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
Rising beef prices have been a vexing conundrum for the Trump administration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
I have some exciting editions planned, but I also want to hear from you: What money matters are vexing you?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Health care is a vexing issue in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
The Soviets' first nuclear test presented a vexing question for Agent Robert Lamphere.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
