Terribly "Vexing"

There are certain words that I associate heavily with actors or characters. This has made me hesitate in using them in stories even though they're perfectly appropriate words.

Example: "vex/vexed/vexing" - Perfectly normal, can use in Rev War. However, my brain automatically just reads it in Joaquin Phoenix's voice as Commodus from "Gladiator." I have no idea why...