# vex

> English word · Verb · IPA /vɛks/ · frequency rank #35,148

## Definitions
1. To annoy, irritate.
2. To cause (mental) suffering to; to distress.
3. To trouble aggressively, to harass.
4. To twist, to weave.
5. To be irritated; to fret.
6. To toss back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Latin vexōbor.
Old French vexerbor.
Middle English vexen
English vex
From Middle English vexen, from Old French vexer, from Latin vexāre (“disturb, agitate, annoy”). Doublet of quake. Displaced native Old English dreċċan and gremman.

## Easily confused with
- **vi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vi)
- **VR** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vr)
- **VP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vp)
- **VW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vw)
- **Vu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vu)
- **VM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vm)
- **vo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vo)
- **VF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vf)
- **VN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vn)
- **VX** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vx)
- **VH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vh)
- **via** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-via)
- **vol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vol)
- **Vic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vic)
- **VIP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vip)
- **vow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vow)
- **vis** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vis)
- **vid** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vid)
- **VPN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vpn)
- **vie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vex-vs-vie)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/vex