- present participle of vex.
vexing
Americanadjective
-
irritating, provoking, or annoying.
Automatic file recovery reintroduced errors already corrected at the proofing stage—which was very vexing.
-
tormenting, troubling, or distressing.
She came to see racism as her country's most vexing problem.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of vexing
Explanation
Anything vexing is bothersome or annoying. The noise of a car alarm is extremely vexing to everyone around. To be vexed is to be irritated or exasperated, so anything vexing creates irritation or exasperation. A splitting headache is vexing. A talkative neighbor can be vexing. Filling out a form is usually vexing. If you're trying to get somewhere and there's traffic, that's a vexing situation. Unfortunately, life is full of vexing situations.
Vocabulary lists containing vexing
Chains
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The Remains of the Day
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This Week In Culture: Current Events Vocab for September 12–18, 2020
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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.
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
Health care is a vexing issue in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
A “tsunami” of CDs coming due is vexing savers who are worried about redeploying their money.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
I have spent a vexing half hour scrapping with Fräulein Engel over the pen nib, which I swear I did not bend on purpose the first time.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
