vexatious

[ vek-sey-shuhs ]

adjective

1. causing vexation; troublesome; annoying:

   a vexatious situation.

   Synonyms: irksome, bothersome, irritating, provoking

   Antonyms: delightful

2. Law. (of legal actions) instituted without sufficient grounds and serving only to cause annoyance to the defendant.
3. full of unease or turmoil; troubled.

vexatious

/ vɛkˈseɪʃəs /

adjective

1. vexing or tending to vex
2. vexed
3. law (of a legal action or proceeding) instituted without sufficient grounds, esp so as to cause annoyance or embarrassment to the defendant

   vexatious litigation

Derived Forms

• vexˈatiousness, noun
• vexˈatiously, adverb

Other Words From

• vex·atious·ly adverb
• vex·atious·ness noun
• nonvex·atious adjective
• nonvex·atious·ly adverb
• nonvex·atious·ness noun
• unvex·atious adjective
• unvex·atious·ly adverb
• unvex·atious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of vexatious¹

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

Example Sentences

It was first proposed in 2021 by the then prime minister Boris Johnson as a solution to ending what he called "vexatious prosecutions" of former soldiers, and was passed in 2023.

From BBC

It was first proposed by the then prime minister Boris Johnson in 2021 as a solution to ending what he called "vexatious prosecutions" of former soldiers.

From BBC

The Scottish government's Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said people were making "fake and vexatious complaints" within days of the legislation being introduced, with a number centred on the then First Minister Humza Yousaf.

From BBC

“So was this a deliberate attempt to cover up those allegations under the guise of dealing with so-called vexatious claims? It’s a very serious question.”

From BBC

The AOC released a separate statement labeling the petition's attempts intentions "as vexatious, misleading and bullying."

From Salon