vexing

V4E1X8I1N1G2

adjective

Causing annoyance or pain; irritating.

Similar
exasperatinginfuriatingmaddeningdispleasingannoyingbothersomegallingirritating
OriginMiddle English vexynge →
UncommonScrabble 17
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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of vex
adjectivevexing (comparative more vexing, superlative most vexing)

comparative more vexing · superlative most vexing

  1. Causing annoyance or pain; irritating.
nounvexing (plural vexings)

plural vexings

  1. vexation

    Many unkindnesses as well as (one feels) many liberties and general vexings, were required to move her to this.

    2002, Harold Bloom, American Women Poets, 1650-1950

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveextremely annoying or displeasing

Similar
exasperatinginfuriatingmaddeningdispleasing

adjectivecausing irritation or annoyance

Similar
annoyingbothersomegallingirritatingnettlesomepeskypesteringpestiferousplaguyplagueyteasingvexatiousdisagreeable
Also see
annoyingbothersomeexasperatinggallinginfuriatingirritatingmaddeningnettlesomeperversepeskypesteringpestiferousplagueyteasingvexatious

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishvexynge“harassment”
  2. Englishvexing

From Middle English vexynge (“harassment”); equivalent to vex + -ing.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

vexing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vexing

MLA

“vexing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vexing. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “vexing,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/vexing.

Source: vexing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.