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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 Clouds' net warming effects depend on their altitude and composition, and changes in clouds have vexed climate modelers for years. Andrew Freedman, Axios, 9 Dec. 2024 For decades, though, a question has vexed astrophysicists: How can supermassive black holes get close enough to spiral together and coalesce? Jonathan O’Callaghan, WIRED, 1 Dec. 2024 Searching for meaning in Kendrick’s imagery can feel vexing when the meaning is more symbolic than overt. Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 10 Feb. 2025 Similarly, Washington didn’t splurge at linebacker, a position that has vexed this franchise for years. David Aldridge, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vex
Verb
  • Waltz now has a bunch of top officials, and their teams, who are annoyed at him for drawing bad publicity.
    Marc Caputo, Axios, 25 Mar. 2025
  • However, standing in the middle of a road to capture the Eiffel Tower in the background is not only unsafe but can also annoy locals.
    Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For a former player who was known as a cutthroat defender, he was perplexed by his players’ disappointing effort.
    Felipe Cardenas, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
  • However, she too was perplexed about the role of the pro-prefect.
    Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Because Congress never bothered to write a law to establish it.
    Jay Cost, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Chicago Bears - Will Campbell, OL, LSU Will Campbell has fallen a bit due to his shorter arm length, but that likely won't bother Ben Johnson.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That’s all bewildering plot-wise, but Morrison also bewilders readers through language.
    The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Meanwhile, Ukrainians are bewildered, wondering how the U.S. went so quickly from isolating the Kremlin to appearing to embrace it.
    Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • First, coffee is significantly more acidic than matcha, which can irritate some people's stomachs or cause heartburn.
    Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 26 Mar. 2025
  • She’s disillusioned with her boyfriend and irritated by her mother.
    Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Dodgers are on Spectrum SportsNet LA, which is not to be confused with Spectrum SportsNet, which carries the Lakers.
    Chad Jennings, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Lesson 2: Don't confuse the end user with the paying customer.
    Mark Francis, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • At least two of them fled Venezuela in part because Tren de Aragua was persecuting them, according to the lawsuit.
    Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Yoon’s conservative supporters have latched on to his arguments as well as his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, strongly echoing the dynamic between President Donald Trump and supporters who say he has been wrongly persecuted by a corrupt judicial system.
    Beomsu Jo, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Most were baffled at the fact the eggs still contained actual egg.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025
  • However, she’s baffled at why social media activity may have contributed to the arrest.
    Polo Sandoval, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vex. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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