vexatious
adjective
vex·a·tious
vek-ˈsā-shəs 
1
a
: causing vexation : distressing
vexatious delays
b
: intended to harass
a vexatious lawsuit
2
: full of disorder or stress : troubled
a vexatious period in her life
vexatiously
adverb
vexatiousness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of vexatious in a Sentence
those vexatious phone calls from telemarketers during the dinner hour
Recent Examples on the Web
Since taking office some 100 days ago Keir Starmer’s government has faltered, derailed by the challenge of race riots, minor, vexatious scandals over gifts to Labour ministers and the sheer magnitude of the task of turning around the UK economy.
—
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
Charting Germany’s shifting relations with the great powers has been Merkel’s most vexatious challenge of all.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
But what used to be a vexatious burden is now a source of daily torment.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2024
Belarus sits like a large ellipsis at the center of Europe, an authoritarian puzzle to much of the outside world, worrying to its immediate neighbors, and a vexatious ally to Russia.
—Andrew Wilson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2012
See all Example Sentences for vexatious 
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.
Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
Charting Germany’s shifting relations with the great powers has been Merkel’s most vexatious challenge of all.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
But what used to be a vexatious burden is now a source of daily torment.
—Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2024
Belarus sits like a large ellipsis at the center of Europe, an authoritarian puzzle to much of the outside world, worrying to its immediate neighbors, and a vexatious ally to Russia.
—Andrew Wilson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2012
See all Example Sentences for vexatious
Articles Related to vexatious
Dictionary Entries Near vexatious
Cite this Entry
“Vexatious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vexatious. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vexatious
adjective
vex·a·tious
vek-ˈsā-shəs
: causing vexation : annoying, distressing
vexatious delays
vexatiously
adverb
vexatiousness
noun
Legal Definition
vexatious
adjective
vex·a·tious
vek-ˈsā-shəs
: lacking a sufficient ground and serving only to annoy or harass when viewed objectively
disciplined the attorney for engaging in vexatious litigation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share