vexatious

adjective

vex·​a·​tious vek-ˈsā-shəs How to pronounce vexatious (audio)
1
a
: causing vexation : distressing
vexatious delays
b
: intended to harass
a vexatious lawsuit
2
: full of disorder or stress : troubled
a vexatious period in her life
vexatiously adverb
vexatiousness noun

Examples of vexatious in a Sentence

those vexatious phone calls from telemarketers during the dinner hour
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Since taking office some 100 days ago Keir Starmer’s government has faltered, derailed by the challenge of race riots, minor, vexatious scandals over gifts to Labour ministers and the sheer magnitude of the task of turning around the UK economy. Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024 Charting Germany’s shifting relations with the great powers has been Merkel’s most vexatious challenge of all. Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021 But what used to be a vexatious burden is now a source of daily torment. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2024 Belarus sits like a large ellipsis at the center of Europe, an authoritarian puzzle to much of the outside world, worrying to its immediate neighbors, and a vexatious ally to Russia. Andrew Wilson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2012 See all Example Sentences for vexatious 

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vexatious was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near vexatious

Cite this Entry

“Vexatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vexatious. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vexatious

adjective
vex·​a·​tious vek-ˈsā-shəs How to pronounce vexatious (audio)
: causing vexation : annoying, distressing
vexatious delays
vexatiously adverb
vexatiousness noun

Legal Definition

vexatious

adjective
vex·​a·​tious vek-ˈsā-shəs How to pronounce vexatious (audio)
: lacking a sufficient ground and serving only to annoy or harass when viewed objectively
disciplined the attorney for engaging in vexatious litigation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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