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Vex vs Browbeat - What's the difference?

vex | browbeat | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between vex and browbeat

is that vex is to toss back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet while browbeat is to bully in an intimidating, bossy, or supercilious way.

As verbs the difference between vex and browbeat

is that vex is to trouble aggressively, to harass while browbeat is to bully in an intimidating, bossy, or supercilious way.

As a noun VEX

is initialism of w:Venus Express|Venus Express|lang=en.

vex

English

Verb

(es)
  • To trouble aggressively, to harass.
  • * 1526 , (William Tyndale), trans. Bible , Acts XII:
  • In that tyme Herode the kynge layed hondes on certayne of the congregacion, to vexe them.
  • To annoy, irritate.
  • Billy's professor was vexed by his continued failure to improve his grades.
  • To cause (mental) suffering to; to distress.
  • (rare) To twist, to weave.
  • * Dryden
  • some English wool, vexed in a Belgian loom
  • (obsolete) To be irritated; to fret.
  • (Chapman)
  • To toss back and forth; to agitate; to disquiet.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • White curl the waves, and the vexed ocean roars.

    Synonyms

    * (to annoy) agitate, irritate * (to cause mental suffering) afflict, torment

    Derived terms

    * vexed * vexer * vexingly * vexation * vexatious

    browbeat

    English

    Alternative forms

    * brow-beat

    Verb

  • To bully in an intimidating, bossy, or supercilious way.
  • Though the teacher browbeat all the children, they still acted out during the lesson.

    Synonyms

    * (to bully in an intimidating way) bully, cow, domineer, intimidate

    References

    * * English irregular verbs