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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
  • And some Democrats are still perplexed by the fact that last November Donald Trump became the first Republican since maybe Abraham Lincoln to carry Fall River.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Some were perplexed by its location, while others were enchanted by the simplistic nature of a home from a time long gone.
    TJ Macias, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 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
  • This match exposed a couple of ugly issues the tour has to address and left spectators bewildered for long stretches at a time.
    Todd Boss, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
  • While some stars dazzle in their glamorous attire, others have stumbled into the realm of fashion faux pas, leaving audiences bewildered.
    WWD Staff, WWD, 21 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
  • No one was going to confuse Colossal with the Sierra Club.
    D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Few foods confuse foreign visitors quite like brunost, Norwegian brown cheese.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Roman authorities persecuted Christians harshly, subjecting them to torture and deaths even more gruesome than crucifixion.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The former president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says he's being politically persecuted.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Two endangered whales are baffling researchers by continuing to show up along a stretch of U.S coast that is not part of their turf, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries.
    Mark Price, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The haphazard cuts to major projects in red states like Ohio baffled some stakeholders.
    Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Vex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vex. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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