provoke vs vex

provoke and vex both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
provoke	No	No	Yes	No
vex	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, vex is a hypernym of provoke; that is, vex is a word with a broader meaning than provoke:

Other hypernyms of provoke include annoy, bother, chafe, devil, get at, get to, gravel, irritate, nark, nettle, rag, rile.

provoke (verb)	vex (verb)
provide the needed stimulus for	be a mystery or bewildering to
evoke or provoke to appear or occur	subject to prolonged examination, discussion, or deliberation
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)	change the arrangement or position of
annoy continually or chronically	cause annoyance in; disturb, especially by minor irritations
	disturb the peace of mind of; afflict with mental agitation or distress