Vexed means annoyed, frustrated, or troubled by something that won't go away easily. When you're vexed, you're genuinely irritated by a problem that keeps nagging at you, causing persistent frustration rather than passing annoyance.

A teacher might feel vexed by students who keep talking during lessons despite repeated reminders. You might be vexed by a math problem that you've attempted five different ways but still can't solve. A coach could be vexed by a team that keeps making the same mistakes in practice.

The word suggests a particular kind of frustration: not explosive anger, but persistent annoyance that weighs on you. It's the feeling of being bothered by something you can't easily fix or escape. When something is described as a vexed question or a vexed issue, it means the problem is complicated and has troubled people for a long time without any clear solution.

You might say “I'm vexed” when your little brother keeps interrupting your homework, or when rain cancels your plans for the third weekend in a row. The word captures that specific feeling of being worn down by something irritating.