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1. Troubled persistently especially with petty annoyances
   "the vexed parents of an unruly teenager";
   - annoyed, harassed, harried, pestered
    
2. Causing difficulty in finding an answer or solution; much disputed
   "the vexed issue of priorities"; "we live in vexed and troubled times"

1. Cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
   "Mosquitoes buzzing in my ear really vexes me";
   - annoy, rag, get to, bother, get at [informal], irritate, rile, nark [Brit, slang], nettle, gravel [US], chafe, devil, tick off [informal], roil [N. Amer]
    
2. Disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress
   "I cannot sleep--my daughter's health is vexing me";
   - worry
    
3. Change the arrangement or position of
   - agitate, disturb, commove, shake up, stir up, raise up
    
4. Subject to prolonged examination, discussion, or deliberation
   "vex the subject of the death penalty"
    
5. Confuse or leave at a loss because of something complex or difficult to understand
   "a vexing problem";
   - confuse, throw, fox, befuddle, fuddle, bedevil, confound, discombobulate [informal], perplex, stick, get, puzzle, mystify, baffle, beat, pose, bewilder, flummox, stupefy, nonplus, gravel, dumbfound

See also: difficult, hard, troubled

Type of: be, cark, debate, deliberate, disorder, displace, displease, disquiet, distract, move, perturb, trouble, unhinge

Antonym: reassure

Encyclopedia: Vexed