vex Definition
vex (veks)
transitive verb
- to give trouble to, esp. in a petty or nagging way; disturb, annoy, irritate, etc.
- to distress, afflict, or plague vexed with rheumatism
- to keep bringing up, going over, or returning to (a matter difficult to solve)
- Obsolete to shake or toss about
Etymology: ME vexen < MFr vexer, to vex, torment < L vexare, to shake, agitate < pp. stem of vehere, to carry: see way
vex Related Forms
vex Synonyms
vex
v.
vex Usage Examples
Object
- people: Well, perhaps unsurprisingly the issues of militant Islamists and free speech have vexed many people.
- philosopher: I think that it is a matter that has vexed philosophers down the ages.
- writer: It now becomes clear why it was this aspect of the fall which vexed the writer most.
- man: He doth not vex a man with an evil, when there is no conveniant occasion for it.
- issue: Let us now turn to the equally vexed issues of quality and standards.
Subject
claim: The Bt cotton debate in particular and the GM controversy in general have been vexed by claims and counter-claims.
Adjective complement
certain: Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.
Modifying Another Word
- so: I was so vexed to see him stand up with her!
- much: She was very much vexed, and meant to make her apology as soon as possible.
- little: Feeling weird about the whole thing, and a little vexed.
- not: Oh, be pure and holy that thou vex not His righteous soul.
- extremely: The sailor, extremely vexed, tried in all sorts of ways to procure fire.
- n't: But I do n't vex myself o'er ' em as you do.
Used with why or when
when: He never said a bad word, and was vexed when he heard any other person do it.
Infinitive complement
- see: I was so vexed to see him stand up with her!
- find: I was vexed to find the alloy of modern refinement in a lady who had so much old family spirit.
Preposition: by
claim: The Bt cotton debate in particular and the GM controversy in general have been vexed by claims and counter-claims.
Browse dictionary entries near vex
- ‹ Vettriano,Jack
- ‹ vetoed
- ‹ veto
- ‹ vetiver
- ‹ veterinary
- ‹ veterinarian
- ‹ Veterans of Foreign Wars
- ‹ Veterans Day
- ‹ Veterans Administration
- ‹ Veteran's Day
- vexation ›
- vexatious ›
- vexatious litigation ›
- vexed ›
- vexillary ›
- vexillate ›
- vexillology ›
- vexillum ›
- vexing ›
- VFR ›

