vexed
Americanadjective
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irritated; annoyed.
The shop's customers were often vexed at the slow sales clerks.
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much discussed or disputed; difficult to resolve or understand; contentious.
The mining rights for that area are a vexed issue.
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afflicted by torment or trouble (often used in combination).
Citizens showed increasing frustration with the corruption-vexed government.
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tossed about, as by waves or other physical forces.
The loud, perpetual roar of the vexed waters filled the valley.
adjective
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annoyed, confused, or agitated
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much debated and discussed (esp in the phrase a vexed question )
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vexed
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; see origin at vex, -ed 2
Explanation
Vexed means "difficult and much debated." If your family is having trouble coming to an agreement about where to go on vacation next summer, your holiday trip has become a vexed issue. When people can't resolve an issue or find a solution, it is a vexed problem — one that's become complicated because of differing and probably strong opinions. Vexed can also describe being irritated. If you borrowed your sister's car without asking permission, and if she had a fancy way of putting things, she might tell you she's incredibly vexed with you right now.
Vocabulary lists containing vexed
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 3
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Mad Infinitum: Synonyms for "Angry"
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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.
Maintaining a smaller deer population is not possible, according to Barton, who said the conservancy fully evaluated other methods for solving the deer challenge, which has vexed them for at least 20 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Ms. Kaushal sets out her argument in “When Africa Comes to America,” a buoyant and refreshing book on the vexed and frequently toxic topic of immigration to this country.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 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 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
He seemed a little vexed at them for the first time since Hanako had met him.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
