vexed 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvekst How to pronounce vexed (audio)
Definition of vexednext
as in annoyed
subjected to and reacting with irritation my dog was clearly vexed with me for having been gone all week, and hardly greeted me when I came home

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vexed

2 of 2

verb

variants also vext
past tense of vex
1
as in bothered
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me

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2
as in puzzled
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vexed
Adjective
How to do that was a very vexed and complicated problem. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 From his perspective, whatever happened was easily resolved — but working on a megahit can make matters more vexed. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026
Verb
Gutierrez found that jurors were vexed by expert testimony regarding a hypothetical world in which NFL games were televised more like college football games. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 8 Sep. 2026 The key will be whether a stronger supporting cast and a more run-heavy system helps Mendoza’s replacement, Josh Hoover, to cut down on the turnovers that vexed him at TCU. — Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vexed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vexed
  1. annoyed
  2. bothered
  3. puzzled
  4. irritated
  5. bugged
  6. baffled
  7. exasperated
  8. persecuted
Adjective
  • None of this means the machine is annoyed, jealous or anxious to please.
    — Puneet Gaur, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Lizzie’s newfound happiness is shattered at the end of the second episode, however, when Abby enters her stepdaughter’s dovecote and beheads every bird inside after growing increasingly annoyed with their cooing during mating season.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of annoyed
Verb
  • And he cannot be bothered with mentioning any of them even when discussing Watson's history.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Thomas has been estranged from the organization for months over a social media faux pas that bothered him and a lawsuit over sales of his jersey.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of bothered
Verb
  • He was puzzled when, after 2021, the number of children going into foster care dropped, but the state's costs for child welfare were rising.
    — Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The photo also showed two others associated with Kremlev, part of a larger group of Russians whose presence puzzled some attendees.
    — Alex Mierjeski, ProPublica, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of puzzled
Adjective
  • The addition of aloe vera juice and hyaluronic acid helps soothe and hydrate skin that may feel a little irritated.
    — Glamour, Glamour, 2 Oct. 2026
  • If your tears lack oil, your eyes can become irritated and dry more easily.
    — Nancy LeBrun, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritated
Verb
  • The indictment revealed that prosecutors had bugged the Aisenbergs' home for three months after Sabrina's disappearance.
    — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a law-enforcement agency known as NABU, had bugged Mindich’s apartment in Kyiv, and detectives picked up his conversations about Fire Point.
    — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026
Definition of bugged
Verb
  • Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • And just last month, officials in Millcreek, Utah, were baffled to find an unknown camera installed on city property that neither the city nor police requested.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of baffled
Adjective
  • Martinez and Ishibashi play McConaughey and Harrelson’s real-life spouses like easily exasperated sitcom spouses, half disapproving wet blankets and half the only sane people in their respective families.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Despite riders growing ever more exasperated with having to race in extreme heat, the Vuelta a España race organizer is adamant that major changes to the cycling calendar will not be contemplated as a solution to combat excessive temperatures.
    — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of exasperated
Verb
  • Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.
    — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of persecuted

Browse Nearby Words

vexatious
vexed
vexes
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Cite this Entry

“Vexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vexed. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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