3 syllables: Ve, xa, tion. Stress on xa.
vek-ZAY-shuhn
/ˌvɛkˈzeɪʃən/
Vexation is pronounced vek-ZAY-shuhn (/ˌvɛkˈzeɪʃən/). It has three syllables (Ve-xa-tion), with the stress on "xa". Vexation is the state of being irritated or annoyed, often accompanied by a feeling of frustration. It can describe a specific annoyance or a more general mood caused by persistent troubles, delays, or difficulties. As a noun, it is typically used in formal or literary contexts to express annoyance with a situation or problem.
nounVexation is the state of being irritated or annoyed, often accompanied by a feeling of frustration. It can describe a specific annoyance or a more general mood caused by persistent troubles, delays, or difficulties. As a noun, it is typically used in formal or literary contexts to express annoyance with a situation or problem.
"Her repeated delays were a source of vexation for everyone waiting to depart."
"The bureaucratic red tape caused considerable vexation among new residents."
"She spoke with quiet vexation as she reviewed the tangled wiring."
Pronounce as vek-AY-shn̩, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ˌvɛkˈseɪʃn̩/. The first syllable uses /v/ + /ɛ/ as in ‘vet’, the second syllable features /eɪ/ as in ‘say’, and the final syllabic /n̩/ or /ʃn̩/ blends /ʃ/ plus a syllabic /n/. Keep the tongue high in the mid-front region during /eɪ/ and drop softly into a light /n/ syllabic in fast speech. IPA guide: US/UK/AU all share /ˌvɛkˈseɪʃn̩/ with minor vowel quality differences; ensure the /z/ sound is not omitted in the second syllable’s onset. Audio reference at Pronounce or Forvo can reinforce the stress shift.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress, saying veKAY-tion or VEX-AY-tion; ensure stress on the second syllable. 2) Slurring the ending into a simple /n/ or /ən/ without the syllabic quality; keep a light, syllabic /n̩/. 3) Mispronouncing /æ/ as /eɪ/ or vice versa; use /ɛ/ in the first syllable, then /eɪ/ in the stressed second syllable. Corrective tips: practice with 2–3 minimal pairs and listen to native audio to hear the precise /ˌvɛkˈseɪʃn̩/ rhythm.
Across accents, the core segments remain, but vowel quality and rhoticity vary. US/UK/AU share /ˌvɛkˈseɪʃn̩/. US speakers may have a slightly tighter /æ/ in the first syllable and may produce a lighter rhotic influence on the final syllable; UK often keeps a crisper /ɪ/ near the end and clearer /ʃ/ cluster; AU tends toward a drier /eɪ/ diphthong with smooth lip rounding. The primary difference is vowel coloring rather than stress: US tends toward a mid-front lax vowel in /vɛk/, UK may maintain a more open /ɛ/; AU often shows subtle centralization in connected speech. Practice with IPA-based listening to internalize these shifts.
Because of the three-syllable structure with a secondary stress pattern and the tricky -ation ending. The sequence /ˈseɪʃn̩/ merges the /seɪ/ vowel with a fast /ʃ/ onset and a syllabic /n̩/, which is easy to misrender as /ˈseɪʃən/ or /ˈseɪʃn/. Also, the initial /v/ followed by a tense /ɛ/ requires precise tongue positioning. Practicing the exact /ˌvɛkˈseɪʃn̩/ with slow speed helps solidify correct timing and helps prevent vowel-shift or consonant-diphthong mispronunciations.
A useful tip is to anchor the second syllable with a controlled /eɪ/ and a gentle /ʃ/ before the final syllabic /n̩/. Place your tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for /s/ after /eɪ/, then ease into a light /ʃ/ and finish with a quick, bright /n̩/. Visualize the word as ve-KAY-shn. Use slow repetition, then connect to a natural, flowing sentence to imprint rhythm and stress.
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Vexation comes from the Latin vexatio, from vexare meaning ‘to shake, disturb, harass’. The Latin verb vexare is built on vexare-; root vex- conveys ‘to trouble’ or ‘to annoy’. In Middle English, vexation appeared as vexacioun, influenced by Old French vexation and Latin roots, retaining its core sense of disturbance and irritation. By the 15th century, it was established in English as vexation, used in both religious and secular literature to denote vexed states of mind or circumstances. Over time, the word broadened from physical disturbance to emotional irritation, fitting formal prose and narrative narration. Its usage spikes in moral and philosophical texts, novels, and legal or bureaucratic contexts where someone describes burdensome, nagging, or prolonged irritants. In modern usage, vexation often emphasizes the process or experience of being irritated, not just the moment of irritation. First known use in English appears in the 15th century, with older Latin and French equivalents shaping its semantic field of disturbance, frustration, and annoyance.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Vexation" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Vexation" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Vexation"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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