adj · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˈvɛkst/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛkst
CMU ARPABET:V EH1 K S T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
annoyed, irritated or distressed
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
She became more and more vexed as she struggled to cope with the demands of the job.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
much debated, discussed or disputed
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
simple past and past participle of vex
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: form-of, participle, past
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
causing difficulty in finding an answer or solution; much disputed
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the vexed issue of priorities
we live in vexed and troubled times
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective satellite
Meaning 5
troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
harassed working mothers
a harried expression
her poor pestered father had to endure her constant interruptions
the vexed parents of an unruly teenager
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: annoyed, harassed, harried, pestered
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English vexed, vexede, vexit, vixid, equivalent to vex + -ed.
Across languages
Translations
26 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
زَعْلَان
(zaʕlān)
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Bulgarian:
сърдит
(sǎrdit)
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Bulgarian:
ядосан
(jadosan)
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Czech:
otrávený
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Czech:
rozmrzelý
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Finnish:
ärsyyntynyt
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Finnish:
ärtynyt
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
French:
contrarié
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
French:
ennuyé
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
French:
fâché
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Hindi:
तंग
(taṅg)
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Central Kurdish:
زیز
(zîz)
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Manx:
boirit
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Spanish:
molesto
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Spanish:
irritado
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Thai:
หงุดหงิด
(ngùt-ngìt)
— annoyed, irritated or distressed
Bulgarian:
спорен
(sporen)
— much debated, discussed or disputed
Czech:
zapeklitý
— much debated, discussed or disputed
Czech:
ožehavý
— much debated, discussed or disputed
Czech:
ošemetný
— much debated, discussed or disputed
Finnish:
kiistanalainen
— much debated, discussed or disputed
French:
épineux
— much debated, discussed or disputed
French:
controversé
— much debated, discussed or disputed
German:
umstritten
— much debated, discussed or disputed
Spanish:
discutido
— much debated, discussed or disputed
Spanish:
debatido
— much debated, discussed or disputed
