VEXED Synonyms: 220 Similar and Opposite Words

vexed 1 of 2

adjective

ˈvekst

Definition of vexed

as in annoyed

subjected to and reacting with irritation my dog was clearly vexed with me for having been gone all week, and hardly greeted me when I came home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

vexed

2 of 2

verb

variants also vext

past tense of vex

as in bothered

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in puzzled

to throw into a state of mental uncertainty a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 vexed

Adjective

How to do that was a very vexed and complicated problem. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 From his perspective, whatever happened was easily resolved — but working on a megahit can make matters more vexed. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 10 June 2026

Verb

Many economists believe that final round of stimulus relief overheated the economy and fed inflation, which has vexed the American public for the past five years. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 For decades scientists and researchers have been vexed by a sound emanating from cats. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for vexed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vexed

Adjective

Kermode was curious, if not slightly annoyed about all this cryptic communication and the request for a secret rendezvous.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026
Yamamoto also seemed annoyed that his catcher could be letting his batting woes affect his work behind the plate.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of annoyed

Verb

That the Houthis are able to score hits from 500 miles away, despite the Saudi military spending tens of billions of dollars on multi-layered air defense systems, has puzzled experts.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
He was puzzled when, after 2021, the number of children going into foster care dropped, but the state's costs for child welfare were rising.

— Joseph Shapiro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of puzzled

Adjective

Pause potent actives like retinoids, AHAs, BHAs and vitamin C when skin is irritated.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
The deodorant also gives dry, irritated pits some extra love, with barrier-supporting sunflower seed oil that helps soften and moisturize skin.

— Madison San Miguel, Allure, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of irritated

Verb

And as the team moved into the couple’s guest house on their San Diego rental property, the filmmakers feared that the home was bugged and ordered a device to try to de-bug it, without success.

— Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
He’s bugged Jay — the two met online and married two years ago before opening their first restaurant last year — to make sure that includes his crispy duck panang curry.

— Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of bugged

Verb

On a lesser show, Lee would have thrown Dale a meaningful look, baffled that the material world was aligning with the woo-woo.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Beyond being frustrated with the secrecy, locals said they were baffled by the lack of specifics and clarity the stakeholders had about the project, per the records.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of baffled

Adjective

Trip isn’t the standout role, but Keery handles the character’s exasperated monologues with panache, turning self-defense and infuriated straight-talk into acts of exhilarating sanity.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Digger, joined by his earnest and exasperated head of environmental safety and security, Nirav Ganesh (Riz Ahmed), heads to Europe to try to avert an unprecedented environmental disaster.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of exasperated

Verb

Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of persecuted

Browse Nearby Words

vexatious

vexed

vexes

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Vexed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vexed. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of vexed

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

shindig

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes