English verb: vex | |||
1. | vex (emotion) cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations | ||
Samples | Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really bothers me. It irritates me that she never closes the door after she leaves. | ||
Examples | The bad news will vex him, The performance is likely to vex Sue | ||
Synonyms | annoy, bother, chafe, devil, get at, get to, gravel, irritate, nark, nettle, rag, rile | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | displease | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | antagonise, antagonize, beset, chevvy, chevy, chivvy, chivy, eat into, fret, fret, get, get under one's skin, grate, harass, harry, hassle, molest, peeve, plague, provoke, rankle, ruffle | ||
Verb group | chafe | ||
2. | vex (emotion) disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress | ||
Samples | I cannot sleep--my daughter's health is worrying me. | ||
Synonyms | worry | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | cark, disorder, disquiet, distract, perturb, trouble, unhinge | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | eat, eat on, misgive, nag | ||
Cause | worry | ||
Verb group | worry | ||
Antonyms | reassure, assure | ||
3. | vex (contact) change the arrangement or position of | ||
Synonyms | agitate, commove, disturb, raise up, shake up, stir up | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something. Somebody ----s somebody. Something ----s somebody. Something ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | displace, move | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | beat, poke, rile, roil, scramble, toss | ||
4. | vex (communication) subject to prolonged examination, discussion, or deliberation | ||
Samples | Vex the subject of the death penalty. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | debate, deliberate | ||
5. | vex (cognition) be a mystery or bewildering to | ||
Samples | This beats me!. Got me--I don't know the answer!. A vexing problem. This question really stuck me. | ||
Synonyms | amaze, baffle, beat, bewilder, dumbfound, flummox, get, gravel, mystify, nonplus, perplex, pose, puzzle, stick, stupefy | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | bedevil, befuddle, confound, confuse, discombobulate, fox, fuddle, throw | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | elude, escape, mix up, riddle, stump | ||