Meaning & use

vex

verb·Advanced

To annoy, worry, or cause distress to someone, often over a persistent minor issue.

See it in a sentence

The constant dripping of the faucet vexed her all through the night.

He was vexed by questions he could not answer during the interview.

A note on using this word

Vex is somewhat old-fashioned or literary; annoy or irritate sound more natural in casual speech.

Words with a similar meaning

irritateannoybother

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

pleasesoothe

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “vex”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.