vexatious

UK: /vɛkˈseɪʃəs/ US: (vek sā′shəs)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

vex•a•tious  (vek sā′shəs), adj. 

1. causing vexation;
   troublesome;
   annoying:
   a vexatious situation.
2. Law (of legal actions) instituted without sufficient grounds and serving only to cause annoyance to the defendant.
3. disorderly;
   confused;
   troubled.

• vexati(on) + -ous 1525–35

vex•a′tious•ly, adv. 
vex•a′tious•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. disturbing, provoking, irritating.

Antonyms

• 1. delightful.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vexatious / vɛkˈseɪʃəs/ adjective

1. vexing or tending to vex
2. vexed
3. (of a legal action or proceeding) instituted without sufficient grounds, esp so as to cause annoyance or embarrassment to the defendant

vexˈatiously adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

vex•a•tion /vɛkˈseɪʃən/   n. 

1. [uncountable] the act of vexing;
   the state of being vexed.
2. [countable] something that vexes;
   a cause of annoyance.

vex•a•tious, adj. See -vec-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

vex•a•tion  (vek sā′shən), n. 

1. the act of vexing.
2. the state of being vexed;
   irritation;
   annoyance:
   vexation at missing the bus.
3. something that vexes;
   a cause of annoyance;
   nuisance:
   Rush-hour traffic is a daily vexation.

• Latin vexātiōn- (stem of vexātiō), equivalent. to vexāt(us) (past participle of vexāre to vex; see -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion
• Middle English vexacioun 1350–1400