Vexing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈvek-siŋ/ vex·ing

Meaning & Definition of Vexing

Vexing (adjective)

  1. causing or likely to cause vexation, vexatious

Vexing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing annoyance

    "the constantly changing schedule was somewhat vexing, but I coped"

    similar: abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious
    related: burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome, biting, grating, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny
    near: delightful, pleasing

Vexing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me"

    similar: aggravating, annoying, bothering, bugging, burning (up), chafing, eating, exasperating, frosting, galling, getting, grating, griping, hacking (off), irking, irritating, itching, narking (British), nettling, peeving, persecuting, piquing, putting out, rasping, riling, ruffling, spiting, getting one's goat, getting on one's nerves, getting to, rubbing the wrong way, setting one's teeth on edge, sticking in one's craw, wearing on
    related: hassling, heckling, nagging, inflaming, provoking, rousing, badgering, baiting, bullyragging, deviling, hagriding, harassing, harrying, pestering, plaguing, teasing, angering, antagonizing, enraging, incensing, infuriating, maddening, rankling, roiling, agitating, discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, exercising, freaking (out), fretting, perturbing, undoing, unhinging, unsettling, upsetting, worrying, affronting, insulting, miffing, offending, outraging
    near: appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, obliging, pacifying, placating, propitiating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, pleasing, satisfying, assuring, cheering, comforting, consoling, contenting, quieting, reassuring, solacing, soothing

  2. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers"

    similar: addling, baffling, bamboozling, beating, befogging, befuddling, bemusing, bewildering, buffaloing, confounding, confusing, discombobulating, disorienting, flummoxing, foxing, fuddling, getting, graveling, mazing, muddling, muddying, mystifying, perplexing, posing, puzzling, blowing one's mind, going to one's head
    related: sticking, stumping, weirding out, abashing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discountenancing, embarrassing, fazing, flustering, mortifying, nonplussing, rattling, agitating, bothering, chagrining, discomforting, discomposing, dismaying, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, stunning, unhinging, unsettling, upsetting, beguiling, cozening, deceiving, deluding, duping, fooling, gulling, hoaxing, hoodwinking, humbugging, misguiding, misleading, snowing, stringing along, taking in, tricking
    near: assuring, reassuring, satisfying, enlightening, informing

Related Entry: Vex (verb)

Vex is a different word from Vexing. The synonyms below are for vex, not for vexing.

  1. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me"

    similar: aggravate, annoy, bother, bug, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, irritate, itch, nark (British), nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on
    related: hassle, heckle, nag, inflame, provoke, rouse, badger, bait, bullyrag, devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil, agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry, affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage
    near: appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

  2. to throw into a state of mental uncertainty

    "a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers"

    similar: addle, baffle, bamboozle, beat, befog, befuddle, bemuse, bewilder, buffalo, confound, confuse, discombobulate, disorient, flummox, fox, fuddle, get, gravel, maze, muddle, muddy, mystify, perplex, pose, puzzle, blow one's mind, go to one's head
    related: stick, stump, weird out, abash, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, agitate, bother, chagrin, discomfort, discompose, dismay, disquiet, distress, disturb, perturb, stun, unhinge, unsettle, upset, beguile, cozen, deceive, delude, dupe, fool, gull, hoax, hoodwink, humbug, misguide, mislead, snow, string along, take in, trick
    near: assure, reassure, satisfy, enlighten, inform

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Vexing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Vexing:

British: narking
abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating, galling, irksome, irritating, maddening, nettlesome, nettling, peeving, pesky, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, pesty, plaguey, rankling, rebarbative, riling, vexatious, bothering, bugging, burning (up), eating, frosting, getting, grating, griping, hacking (off), irking, itching, persecuting, piquing, putting out

Related Words for Vexing

burdensome, discomforting, displeasing, disquieting, distressing, importunate, importune, inconveniencing, angering, enraging, infuriating, brattish, bratty, mischievous, offensive, troublesome, upsetting, distractive, painful, stressful, tiresome, troubling, trying, worrisome, biting, jangling, jarring, spiny, thorny, hassling

Near Antonyms of Vexing

delightful, pleasing, appeasing, conciliating, mollifying, obliging, pacifying, placating, propitiating, delighting, gladdening, gratifying, satisfying, assuring, cheering, comforting, consoling, contenting, quieting, reassuring, solacing, soothing, enlightening, informing

Word Forms of Vexing

Derived words: vexingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Vexing

First known use: 1569

Frequently Asked Questions about Vexing

What does "Vexing" mean?

"Vexing" means causing or likely to cause vexation, vexatious. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: causing or likely to cause vexation, vexatious. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Vexing"?

Other words for "Vexing" include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing and exasperating. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Vexing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Vexing"?

There are 172 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Vexing". Common alternatives include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking, chafing, disturbing, exasperating, frustrating and galling.

How do you use "Vexing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Vexing" in a sentence: "the constantly changing schedule was somewhat vexing, but I coped"; "my coworkers' loud, endless conversations vexed me"; "a mystery novel that is sure to vex even the canniest readers".

Is "Vexing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Vexing" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Vexing"?

"Vexing" is pronounced /ˈvek-siŋ/ and divided into syllables as vex·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Vexing"?

First known use: 1569.

What is another word for "Vexing" meaning "causing annoyance"?

When "Vexing" (adjective) means causing annoyance, synonyms include abrasive, aggravating, annoying, bothersome, carking and chafing.