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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb vex differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of vex are annoy, bother, and irk. While all these words mean "to upset a person's composure," vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.

vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

Where would annoy be a reasonable alternative to vex?

The synonyms annoy and vex are sometimes interchangeable, but annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.

their constant complaining annoys us

When can bother be used instead of vex?

While the synonyms bother and vex are close in meaning, bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.

don't bother me while I'm reading

When is it sensible to use irk instead of vex?

In some situations, the words irk and vex are roughly equivalent. However, irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.

careless waste irks the boss

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 vex Shortages of controllers have vexed airline executives, who have blamed staffing shortages for congestion in some of the country’s busiest airports. Leslie Josephs,michael Sheetz, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2024 Gavigan has been an outspoken critic of Nashville's unbridled growth, which particularly vexed her at her Gulch location. Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 3 Dec. 2024 The steps taken to help Ukraine -- along with unconfirmed reports Wednesday of Ukraine firing a certain British cruise missile at Russia for the first time -- were likely to vex Moscow. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Nov. 2024 As if that wasn’t vexing enough, Saudi Arabia came back from behind to upset the favourites. James Horncastle, The Athletic, 3 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for vex 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vex
Verb
  • Patrice O’Neal did a wonderful job of being annoyed.
    Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
  • Together the besties are annoyed by the mundanity of their jobs, from fielding ridiculous customer complaints to suffering the indignity of having their service summoned by a bell on a pop-up flag installed on the tables.
    Courtney Howard, Variety, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Highlanders’ zone defense can perplex their opponents.
    Steve Fryer, Orange County Register, 16 Jan. 2025
  • The box office achievement category continues to perplex For its sophomore year, this category — meant to ensure that movies most people have actually seen do at least get some kind of awards recognition at the Globes — still managed to secure some curious choices.
    Kate Aurthur, Variety, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Theresa’s nose has been bothering her and one of her children has asthma.
    Simmone Shah, TIME, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Ludvig Aberg, who shared the second-round lead with Griffin, was bothered by illness throughout the round.
    Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Many fans online seemed shocked and bewildered by her post asking for another natural disaster.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Other creators named in the suit had quicker but equally bewildered responses.
    Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Prolonged exposure to vog can irritate the eyes, throat and lungs, particularly for those with preexisting respiratory conditions.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Rising temperatures also accelerate the production of ground-level ozone, a harmful gas that irritates airways and can trigger asthma attacks.
    Bill Frist, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Some residents have confused local law enforcement for ICE agents, said Earl Stoddard, an assistant chief administrative officer in Montgomery County, a sign of locals' anxieties that their neighborhood could be the agency's next target.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, arkansasonline.com, 25 Jan. 2025
  • After a whirlwind of speculation and confusing back-and-forth negotiations, the Jacksonville Jaguars have officially hired former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen as their new head coach.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Netanyahu is far more popular in Israel now than before the war and the Egyptian leader, who has viciously persecuted its parent organization, the global Muslim Brotherhood, has been reprieved by Western creditors in reward for maintaining a stony silence over Gaza.
    Max Rodenbeck, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The facts of the complex historical matter are somewhat simplified and compressed, but care is taken to inform the viewer — briefly — that the Mormons were persecuted in Missouri and Illinois and that church founder Joseph Smith was assassinated, to give some background to their defensiveness.
    Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Returning to a solely home console or handheld game system would be baffling (though handheld- or console-only variants like the Nintendo Switch Lite aren't out of the question as alternative models).
    Will Greenwald, PCMAG, 16 Jan. 2025
  • And like so many fans, Pomeroy is baffled by the CFP selection process.
    Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near vex

Cite this Entry

“Vex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vex. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vex

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