English Dictionary

VEXATIOUS

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does vexatious mean? 

VEXATIOUS (adjective)
  The adjective VEXATIOUS has 1 sense:

1. causing irritation or annoyanceplay

  Familiarity information: VEXATIOUS used as an adjective is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


VEXATIOUS (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Causing irritation or annoyance

Synonyms:

annoying; bothersome; galling; irritating; nettlesome; pesky; pestering; pestiferous; plaguey; plaguy; teasing; vexatious; vexing

Context example:

it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong

Similar:

disagreeable (not to your liking)


 Context examples 


To be neglected before one's time must be very vexatious; but it was entirely the mother's fault.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

A thousand vexatious thoughts would recur.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Were the same fair prospect to arise at present as had flattered them a year ago, every thing, she was persuaded, would be hastening to the same vexatious conclusion.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I can't think what papa can have been about, when he chose such a vexatious thing to be my companion.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I have other complaints to make upon this vexatious occasion; but I forbear troubling myself or you any further.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

“Is not this most vexatious, Knightley?” she cried.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

She had also to anticipate how her visit would pass, the quiet tenor of their usual employments, the vexatious interruptions of Mr. Collins, and the gaieties of their intercourse with Rosings.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Whether advocates and orators had liberty to plead in causes manifestly known to be unjust, vexatious, or oppressive?

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It was very vexatious, and she was heartily sorry for it; but so it was; and so far from now meaning to marry the elder, she did not even want to attract him beyond what the simplest claims of conscious beauty required: his lengthened absence from Mansfield, without anything but pleasure in view, and his own will to consult, made it perfectly clear that he did not care about her; and his indifference was so much more than equalled by her own, that were he now to step forth the owner of Mansfield Park, the Sir Thomas complete, which he was to be in time, she did not believe she could accept him.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

When I call you a ridiculous creature, or a vexatious thing, or anything of that sort, Peggotty, I only mean that you are my true friend, and always have been, ever since the night when Mr. Copperfield first brought me home here, and you came out to the gate to meet me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"He who laughs last laughs longest." (English proverb)

"We do not inherit the world from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." (Native American proverb, tribe unknown)

"Life will show you what you did not know." (Arabic proverb)

"He who leaves and then returns, had a good trip." (Corsican proverb)



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