vex

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /vɛks/ UK /vɛks/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to annoy, irritate, or trouble

The riddle continued to vex her long after midnight.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to annoy, irritate, or trouble annoy irritate irk trouble exasperate aggravate

Opposites

please soothe calm comfort gratify

Word family

Derived forms vexation vexatious vexedvexer

Related forms convexvexillum

Simplified etymology

Vex came into late Middle English through Old French from Latin vexare, meaning “to shake” or “disturb.” Vexation derives from the same source.

Etymology

From Old French 'vexer' ('to vex, harass'), from Latin 'vexare' ('to shake, agitate, harass'), frequentative related to 'vehere' ('to carry, draw').

vexer Old French vexare Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# vex

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /vɛks/
**IPA (UK):** /vɛks/

## Meanings
1. to annoy, irritate, or trouble

## Examples
- The riddle continued to vex her long after midnight.

## Synonyms
- annoy
- irritate
- irk
- trouble
- exasperate
- aggravate

## Antonyms
- please
- soothe
- calm
- comfort
- gratify

## Derived Forms
- vexation
- vexatious
- vexed
- vexer

## Related Forms
- convex
- vexillum

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: vexer
- Root: vexare

## Etymology
From Old French 'vexer' ('to vex, harass'), from Latin 'vexare' ('to shake, agitate, harass'), frequentative related to 'vehere' ('to carry, draw').

## AI Etymology
Vex comes from Old French 'vexer' ('to vex, harass'), from Latin 'vexare' ('to shake, agitate, harass'), frequentative related to 'vehere' ('to carry, draw'). The historical trail runs through Old French vexer and Latin vexare. In modern use it means to annoy, irritate, or trouble. Derived formations include vexation, vexatious, vexed, vexer; related forms include convex, vexillum.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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vex