Vexatious

Meaning

Causing annoyance or distress; instituted without sufficient legal grounds so as to harass the accused

Origin / Etymology

Latin 'vexare' (to shake, disturb)

Synonyms

Harassing Frivolous

Antonyms

Legitimate Bona fide

Example Sentence

"Civil-liberties critics of the Vande Mataram Bill warned that an open-textured offence risks vexatious prosecution, since any private person could set the criminal law in motion against mere silence or academic criticism."

🎯 UPSC Usage

Deploy in GS2/GS4 critiques of poorly drafted penal provisions, e.g., 'The absence of a stated mens rea threshold invites vexatious litigation against bona fide dissent.'

Relevant Subjects

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