annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.
their constant complaining annoys us
vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.
vexed by her son's failure to clean his room
irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.
careless waste irks the boss
bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.
don't bother me while I'm reading
Examples of vex in a Sentence
This problem has vexed researchers for years.
We were vexed by the delay.
Recent Examples on the WebNBCUniversal’s chief content officer underscored the need for optimism in this troubled time in Hollywood – where austerity reigns, jobs are scarce and creatives are vexed by the approaching AI revolution.—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 June 2024 The towers, the site of several arrests and paragliding attempts, have vexed public officials who have tried to stop taggers from adding their own touches to the structures.—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2024 With so many health concerns vexing the new year, this one’s quick, easy, and cheap to cross off your worry list.—Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 6 Feb. 2024 And the operation failed to resolve any of the deep dilemmas and challenges vexing the Israeli government, according to analysts.—Isabel Kershner, New York Times, 9 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for vex
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vex.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French vexer, from Latin vexare to agitate, harry; probably akin to Latin vehere to convey — more at way
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