vex

[veks]

See more synonyms for vex on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to irritate; annoy; provoke: His noisy neighbors often vexed him.
to torment; trouble; distress; plague; worry: Lack of money vexes many.
to discuss or debate (a subject, question, etc.) with vigor or at great length: to vex a question endlessly without agreeing.

to disturb by motion; stir up; toss about.
to afflict with physical pain.

Origin of vex

1375–1425; late Middle English vexen < Old French vexer < Latin vexāre to shake, jolt, harass, annoy, frequentative of vehere to carry, convey

Related formsvex·er, nounvex·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms for vex

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1. anger, irk, fret, nettle. 2. hector, harry, harass.

Antonyms for vex

1. delight.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for vex

annoy, disturb, perplex, exasperate, displease, peeve, infuriate, disquiet, irritate, offend, rile, irk, torment, agitate, gall, embarrass, afflict, pique, hassle, anger

Examples from the Web for vex

Contemporary Examples of vex

The title of the Donne poem is “Oh, to Vex Me, Contraries Meet as One.”
Cynthia Nixon on Bisexuality & Her New Role in ‘Wit’
Kevin Sessums
January 24, 2012
Please torment, harass, vex, heckle, and badger those two blockheads until they honor their commitments to my defense fund.
John Grisham's Debut Short Story
John Grisham
October 26, 2009

Historical Examples of vex

“Vex not thyself,” said the old dame, as she saw him struggling with his sobs.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
"Nay, you cannot vex me," he answered, all warm again at the very sight of her.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
She is a very good woman—very; but it's prudent not to vex her.
Night and Morning, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
All this was the readier told me, because it was against me, and would tease and vex me.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
The chance was lost; but why should it vex her,—what was he to her?
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for vex

vex

verb (tr)

to anger or annoy
to confuse; worry
archaic to agitate

Derived Formsvexer, nounvexing, adjectivevexingly, adverb

Word Origin for vex

C15: from Old French vexer, from Latin vexāre to jolt (in carrying), from vehere to convey

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vex

early 15c., from Middle French vexer, from Latin vexare "to attack, harass, trouble," from vexus, collateral form of vectus, past participle of vehere "to draw, carry" (see vehicle). Related: Vexed; vexing.