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:
The tunnel traffic continues to vex U.S. officials.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
The contrasting standards vex those worried for the future of public education.
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
The brevity—and breakneck speed—of many of the new trade deals with the U.S. have left ambiguities that vex swift approvals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 27, 2026
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
I tried not to vex or trouble him further, but he never gave me the attention I desired.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
That question vexes former Royal Netherlands Air Force Apache attack helicopter pilot Roy Lindelauf, who is now a professor of data science in the department of intelligent systems of Tilburg University.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
It is this uncertainty that vexes political pundits and campaign strategists alike.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2024
It vexes opponents and forces them into bad looks.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 17, 2024
Regarding the Dec. 4 Metro article “Metro’s focus on evasion vexes kids”:
From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2022
“La, no Miss, but he’s had a scene with Mr. Laurie, who is in one of his tantrums about something, which vexes the old gentleman, so I dursn’t go nigh him.”
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
To call this a vexed question is putting it mildly.
From Salon ● Sep. 15, 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
"There is no point in bemoaning what is going on" one says phlegmatically, "Andy Burnham's inherited this vexed issue that our jails are full, it's in the nature of being PM."
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
But this move suggests that the producers’ club will only find it harder to navigate the cross-currents of war, economic uncertainty, sanctions, and non-OPEC supply growth that have vexed market management.
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
The door was opening, and into the room now came Number Two, looking vexed, followed by Milligan, looking gloomy.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
The aftermath is anything but simple, and that “Promising Young Woman” is so vexing only proves there is no easy way to make sense of the senseless.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
As vexing as America’s fiscal picture seems, France is in worse shape.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
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
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
Its structure was the second great mystery vexing physicists in the twenties.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
