English Reference
Verb

vexed

v.
C1 Advanced US /ˈvɛkst/ UK /vˈɛkst/ vexed

v.feeling annoyed or worried about something that is difficult to solve. You use this when a problem is frustrating you because it is not easy to fix.

v.feeling annoyed, worried, or perplexed by a difficult or frustrating situation. Often used to describe a state of being troubled by a persistent problem.


SIMPLE

I am vexed by this difficult math problem.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager was vexed by the constant technical errors that kept the website from loading properly for customers.

COMPLEX

The diplomat was deeply vexed by the lack of progress in the negotiations, as both sides remained unwilling to compromise on the most contentious points of the treaty.

A few seem to describe vexed mother-daughter dynamics.

The Guardian· 19 Aug 2026

She is particularly vexed by the misplaced use of resources spent on special pouches to prevent the devices from being accessed during the school day.

The Guardian· 16 Jul 2026

From Middle English vexed, vexede, vexit, vixid, equivalent to vex + -ed.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English vexed
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated