vex /veks/ verb make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters. "the memory of the conversation still vexed him" Similar: annoy irritate infuriate anger incense inflame enrage irk chagrin exasperate madden pique provoke nettle disturb upset perturb discompose put out try try someone's patience get on someone's nerves bother trouble worry agitate harass harry fuss fluster ruffle hound rankle with nag torment pain distress tease frustrate chafe grate fret gall outrage displease offend disgust dissatisfy disquiet rub up the wrong way mither peeve aggravate miff bug bite eat hassle rile get to hack off make someone's blood boil make someone see red get someone's goat get someone's hackles up make someone's hackles rise get someone's back up get someone's dander up drive up the wall drive bananas needle be a pain in the neck ruffle someone's feathers get in someone's hair get up someone's nose get under someone's skin give someone a hard time nark get on someone's wick give someone the hump wind up get across tick off ride rankle gravel bum out vulgar slangpiss off get on someone's tits Opposite: mollify appease ARCHAIC cause distress to. "thou shalt not vex a stranger"