vex
To annoy, irritateTo annoy, irritate.
» We have a rather vexing problem.
Meaning
6 senses(transitive)To annoy, irritate.
Billy's professor was vexed by his continued failure to improve his grades.
ärgern, verärgern, reizen
раздража́тьrazdražátʹ, досажда́тьdosaždátʹ
(transitive)To cause (mental) suffering to; to distress.
beunruhigen, quälen
волнова́тьvolnovátʹ
disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress
(rare, transitive)To twist, to weave.
(transitive)To toss back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet.
(archaic, transitive)To trouble aggressively, to harass.
(intransitive, obsolete)To be irritated; to fret.
Examples
14 sentencesWe have a rather vexing problem.
This is somewhat vexing.
deDas ist etwas lästig.
Are you vexed?
Mary has a rather vexing problem.
Nothing vexed her more than his selfishness.
deNichts ärgerte sie mehr als sein Egoismus.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English vexen, from Old French vexer, from Latin vexāre (“disturb, agitate, anFrom Middle English vexen, from Old French vexer, from Latin vexāre (“disturb, agitate, annoy”). Displaced native Old English dreċċan and gremman.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
vexes, vexing, vexed, vexedSynonyms
126 synonyms- be a mystery or bewildering to:perplexstickgetpuzzlemystifybafflebeatpose
- change the arrangement or position of:agitatedisturbcommoveshake upstir upraise up
- disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress:worry
- cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations:annoyragget tobotherget atirritaterilenark
Antonyms
2 antonymsWord family
10 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle