VEXED means annoyed, frustrated, or worried, often by something difficult or perplexing. In word games, VEXED is a high-scoring 5-letter word worth 16 points in Scrabble, featuring the valuable X tile.
Yes. VEXED is in the Scrabble-style word list used by our tools and scores 16 points in Scrabble, 17 in Words With Friends and 16 in Wordfeud (base tile values, no board multipliers). Always check the dictionary your game uses (NWL, Collins or the WWF list) before playing.
| Letter | V | E | X | E | D | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrabble | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| Words With Friends | 5 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| Wordfeud | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
Vexed captures a universal human emotion—that particular mixture of annoyance, frustration, and bewilderment when confronted with something troublesome or perplexing. Whether describing a person irritated by a persistent problem, a scholar puzzled by a difficult question, or a community troubled by an ongoing issue, vexed conveys both emotional disturbance and intellectual challenge.
As the past tense and past participle of "vex," this word carries centuries of linguistic history. To be vexed goes beyond simple annoyance; it suggests a state of agitation that combines frustration with confusion. A vexed expression shows not just anger but perplexity. A vexed question isn't merely difficult—it's one that has troubled minds for generations without satisfactory resolution.
The word appears frequently in formal and literary contexts. Legal documents speak of "vexed litigation"—cases that drag on frustratingly. Philosophers discuss "vexed questions" that resist easy answers. Politicians face "vexed issues" combining practical and ethical challenges. This formal usage distinguishes vexed from simpler synonyms like "annoyed" or "bothered," lending gravitas to the described frustration.
VEXED derives from Latin "vexare" meaning "to shake, agitate, or harass," related to "vehere" (to carry). The word entered Middle English through Old French "vexer" in the 15th century. Originally meaning physical shaking or agitation, it evolved to describe mental and emotional disturbance. The Indo-European root *wegh- (to move, carry) connects vex to vehicle, convey, and way. The past participle form "vexed" emerged in the 1400s, with the modern sense of "annoyed and puzzled" fully established by Shakespeare's time. The adjective use ("a vexed question") developed in the 1600s, adding the meaning of "much debated without resolution."
Anagrams: no other word uses exactly the letters of VEXED.
Hooks: no front hooks; no back hooks.
Words inside VEXED: 10 shorter words can be made from these letters – highest scoring: VEXEXEDDEXEXDEVEVEVEEDEEDEED. See all words from VEXED.