vex

/ˈveks/

Middle English, from Anglo-French vexer, from Latin vexare to agitate, harry; probably akin to Latin vehere to convey

verb

  1. to bring trouble, distress, or agitation to

  2. to bring physical distress to

  3. to irritate or annoy by petty provocations : harass

the restaurant is vexed by slow service

a headache vexed him all morning

annoy vex irk bother mean to upset a person's composure. annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness. vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.