1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to perplex
to throw into a state of mental uncertainty
a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vex
Drones cost a fraction of the weapons needed to shoot them down, a math problem that has vexed military planners for years.
—
Chris Boccia, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
In flashbacks, viewers learn why Dorothy (Amanda Righetti) left an 11-year-old Lucy (Savannah Lumar) in Kay’s care, and how Lucy and Kay’s codependency continually vexes Dorothy.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, Japan’s leadership in this often vexing but manageable environment is promising.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Dinner has been vexing people for a very long time.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vex
Chris Boccia, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
In flashbacks, viewers learn why Dorothy (Amanda Righetti) left an 11-year-old Lucy (Savannah Lumar) in Kay’s care, and how Lucy and Kay’s codependency continually vexes Dorothy.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Mar. 2026
Fortunately, Japan’s leadership in this often vexing but manageable environment is promising.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Dinner has been vexing people for a very long time.
—Rafaela Jinich, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vex
Verb
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The platform’s staff has seemed minorly annoyed at the shots Denk and others at Beehiiv have taken as Substack has moved from disruptor to incumbent.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
30 Mar. 2026
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One who grew up respectful but annoyed by the success the league previously had in Seattle.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their presence prompted nervousness among beachgoers and surfers sharing the water, but marveled researchers who were perplexed by the abnormally longer stay close to shore.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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These are the brutally real snapshots of a man well acquainted with—but still perplexed by—the powerful and destructive forces that lord over our lives.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The 6-foot-2 Strong — AP’s Player of the Year — was bothered by South Carolina’s interior size, with several of her inside shots rattling in and out.—
David Brandt,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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But he isn’t bothered by the fact that the cost has jumped by more than $1 a gallon over the past month or so.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There aren’t many ways to earn a club’s first win better than bewildering the league’s defending champions at their place.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
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Now, many millions of Americans are bewildered by events.—
David French,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even minimal exposure to artificial lights irritated his burns, and recovery took months.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
26 Mar. 2026
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Many people have come out of the woodwork and jumped on the bandwagon, which irritated me.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As if that wasn’t confusing enough, not all Christians agree on what day of the calendar that specific Sunday is.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
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This was not to be confused with the Ulster Volunteer Force or the Ulster Defence Association, both terrorist organizations that vehemently favored the link with Britain.—
Colm Tóibín,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chandler Zavala has been fighting the injury bug his whole career.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Mar. 2026
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The cost of it, however, is boots and bug repellent.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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The Late Show host appeared genuinely baffled by the president’s current poll numbers during his opening monologue on Tuesday, mostly due to the 22 percent of Americans who are still throwing their support behind the 79-year-old former reality star.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vex. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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