1
2

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 That the hosts ended the afternoon with a full complement of players will no doubt have vexed Stockport on their trip back across the border after James McClean was fortunate to see yellow rather than red for a crude first-half challenge on Hills. Richard Sutcliffe, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025 Runway construction at Newark has added to delays, vexing executives as the busy summer travel season approaches. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 11 May 2025 The same data demons that vexed the Bruins in the NHL Draft lottery, or that continue to haunt Jim Montgomery following his team’s Game 7 loss to Winnipeg, showed up wearing Blue and Orange Monday. Bill Speros, Boston Herald, 7 May 2025 When hounded by Amen Thompson and the same Houston wings who had vexed him at Chase Center, Curry schooled the young Rockets in the rematch en route to 31 points. Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vex
Verb
  • The comedy as a second-class sibling to the drama is a notion that has annoyed the people who make television comedies for years.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 June 2025
  • In some cases, that will be obvious: You’ll get annoyed by weird or loud noises and odors, notice your energy bill has skyrocketed, or spot signs of a leak.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • There was one final thing that left St John perplexed.
    Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 11 May 2025
  • The results achieved statistical significance in one part of the analysis but not in others, perplexing outside experts.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Understandably, the online narrative bothered the director as well.
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
  • This is an arrangement that bothers Kagi's founder.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Babb acknowledged that the team was bewildered at the stunning turn of events.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025
  • They were bewildered for me, and so was all the other staff.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who Trump initially tapped to co-lead DOGE, pushed for an expansion of the program as way to attract global talent, irritating immigration hawks in the conservative movement.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 7 June 2025
  • Plus, it’s made without parabens, phthalates, and sulfates, which may irritate some skin types.
    Jenny Berg, Allure, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • The measures are set to take effect on Monday and have left many Haitians confused.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Elections and Certifications Don’t confuse a benefit or B corporation with a B Corp.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Leopoldo chose to be the voice of the people who elected him, and was persecuted for it.
    Imamu "Mu" Tomlinson, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • After being persecuted for the nature of her work, the political scientist arrived to the U.S. in 2022 on a visa.
    Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • How Harry has changed under the influence of Meghan Markle has been baffling both to the royal family and beyond.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025
  • So, for the club to be entertaining flogging, the one man who has bucked that trend is baffling.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vex. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on vex

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!