vexatious

[ vek-sey-shuhs ]

/ vɛkˈseɪ ʃəs /

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adjective

causing vexation; troublesome; annoying: a vexatious situation.

Law. (of legal actions) instituted without sufficient grounds and serving only to cause annoyance to the defendant.

disorderly; confused; troubled.

Nearby words

vetluga, veto, vetter, vex, vexation, vexatious, vexed, vexillary, vexillate, vexillographer, vexillology

Origin of vexatious

First recorded in 1525–35; vexati(on) + -ous

SYNONYMS FOR vexatious

1 disturbing, provoking, irritating.

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ANTONYMS FOR vexatious

1 delightful.

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Related forms

vex·a·tious·ly, adverbvex·a·tious·ness, nounnon·vex·a·tious, adjectivenon·vex·a·tious·ly, adverb

non·vex·a·tious·ness, nounun·vex·a·tious, adjectiveun·vex·a·tious·ly, adverbun·vex·a·tious·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vexatious

In vexatious Latin America, they knew that a blue chip ego was an asset.
The Rise And Fall Of Brazilian Billionaire Eike Batista|Mac Margolis|November 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The vexatious and wasteful conflict between naturalism and humanism is terminated.
Reconstruction in Philosophy|John Dewey
The wait was vexatious, but Jack amused himself with noting the peculiar furnishings of the room, that served for an office.
The Motor Girls at Lookout Beach|Margaret Penrose
These vexatious circumstances animated his endeavours, while they irritated his chagrin.
The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, Volume I|Tobias Smollett

There had been no serious breakages, no vexatious delays, no trouble of any important character.
Ralph Gurney's Oil Speculation|James Otis
Vexatious riddles of conduct were ignored like the acrostics of old newspapers, and Jenny was happier than she had ever been.
Carnival|Compton Mackenzie

British Dictionary definitions for vexatious

vexatious

/ (vɛkˈseɪʃəs) /

adjective

vexing or tending to vex

vexed

law (of a legal action or proceeding) instituted without sufficient grounds, esp so as to cause annoyance or embarrassment to the defendantvexatious litigation

Derived Forms

vexatiously, adverbvexatiousness, noun

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