as in frustrating
causing annoyance
the constantly changing schedule was somewhat vexing, but I coped
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in annoying
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in puzzling
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
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Recent Examples of vexing
Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Throwing inside to lefties wasn’t a strength during that vexing time for the young southpaw.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
But a few details that might be quite vexing to the bride and groom are playing out in public.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
Then there is the vexing question of what, precisely, the goal would be if the U.S. joined military operations — and how it would be achieved.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vexing
Adjective
Feeding it context to understand a vexing issue or concern, the CEO could engage in a hypothetical back-and-forth exchange with the shapeshifting AI to both unearth both blind spots and helpful epiphanies.
—Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Throwing inside to lefties wasn’t a strength during that vexing time for the young southpaw.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025
But a few details that might be quite vexing to the bride and groom are playing out in public.
—Christie D’zurilla, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2025
Then there is the vexing question of what, precisely, the goal would be if the U.S. joined military operations — and how it would be achieved.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for vexing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vexing
Adjective
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But the most frustrating point among them is the argument shared by several critics and a wider collection of the audience that the film doesn’t have a deeper meaning and is ultimately about nothing.—
Richard Newby,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Aug. 2025
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Few things are more frustrating than running into a stubborn knot while in the middle of a brushing.—
Annie Blackman,
Glamour,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Researchers are particularly focused on unraveling the puzzling interplay between gas content, magma pressure and lava flow dynamics.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
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Almost two years into his ordeal, Gould learned of an initiative at the National Institutes of Health that focuses on solving the country’s most puzzling medical cases.—
Jason Liebowitz,
The Atlantic,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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For a good portion of the audience, Metal Gear Solid Delta will hit all the right notes by being a nice jaunt down memory lane to a time when these ideas and systems were innovative rather than annoying.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
22 Aug. 2025
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The sheer amount of toilet humor — there’s a lot of mucus, snot, and jokes about people drinking piss stuffed into one film — often proves more annoying than fun.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2025
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All three ingredients offer significant benefits for skin brightening and skin texture, but also tend to be irritating to people with sensitive skin.—
Caroline C. Boyle,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On the morning of the massacre, an erratic-acting Westman posted a disturbing video displaying an arsenal of firearms, magazines and ammunition adorned with extremist writings.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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The words of the 26-year-old monster who murdered nine people before taking his own life at Oregon's Umpqua Community College in 2015 revealed a disturbing trend in America: mass-shooter suicides.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 Jan. 2025
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The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Dec. 2024
Verb
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According to Yau, those with acne-prone skin should reach for a stainless steel gua sha—unlike natural stone, stainless steel is non-porous and anti-bacterial, preventing unwanted breakouts and aggravating easily congested skin.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
13 Mar. 2025
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Following his final round, the two-time major champion detailed surviving the weekend without aggravating his rib injury.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vexing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vexing. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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