Synonyms of bug

bug 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəg 

1

as in sucker

a person with a strong and habitual liking for something

a camera bug who loves taking candid shots at fairs and festivals

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sucker
• lover
• fan
• enthusiast
• buff
• freak
• maniac
• fanatic
• addict
• junkie
• fiend
• admirer
• collector
• nut
• fool
• hound
• devotee
• aficionado
• fancier
• maven
• supporter
• friend
• expert
• proponent
• authority
• head
• groupie
• habitué
• connoisseur
• amateur
• exponent
• dilettante
• champion
• promoter
• advocate
• booster
• evangelist
• patron
• zealot
• follower
• disciple
• apostle
• adherent
• partisan
• cultist
• convert
• backer
• hanger-on
• votary
• faddist
• rooter
• well-wisher

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• nonfan
• critic
• detractor
• carper
• belittler
• nonadmirer

2

as in disease

an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning

I can't go to work today because I've caught some bug that's going around

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disease
• ailment
• illness
• fever
• ill
• condition
• sickness
• disorder
• attack
• infection
• malady
• complication
• plague
• complaint
• trouble
• ail
• distemper
• infirmity
• distemperature
• affection
• contagious disease
• contagion
• spell
• epidemic
• weakness
• pest
• bout
• lameness
• pestilence
• unsoundness
• malaise
• contagium
• fit
• pip
• matter
• debility
• feebleness
• sickliness
• unhealthiness
• unwellness
• decrepitude
• frailness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• health
• wellness
• fitness
• robustness
• soundness
• shape
• wholeness
• wholesomeness
• healthiness
• heartiness
• fettle

bug

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to annoy

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

these incessant phone calls are really starting to bug me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoy
• bother
• irritate
• persecute
• get
• aggravate
• itch
• eat
• frost
• plague
• spite
• worry
• hack (off)
• gripe
• vex
• irk
• get to
• burn (up)
• put out
• anger
• exasperate
• wear on
• ruffle
• grate
• peeve
• rub the wrong way
• nettle
• rile
• infuriate
• tease
• pique
• gall
• stick in one's craw
• chafe
• rasp
• get one's goat
• nag
• nark
• set one's teeth on edge
• insult
• get on one's nerves
• provoke
• upset
• devil
• badger
• hassle
• harass
• enrage
• rouse
• pester
• bait
• harry
• discomfort
• offend
• distress
• outrage
• heckle
• inflame
• bullyrag
• undo
• disquiet
• unsettle
• antagonize
• exercise
• perturb
• affront
• hagride
• agitate
• rankle
• roil
• madden
• freak (out)
• discompose
• fret
• unhinge
• incense
• miff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• please
• placate
• appease
• pacify
• oblige
• delight
• satisfy
• conciliate
• gratify
• content
• assure
• console
• mollify
• comfort
• propitiate
• cheer
• reassure
• soothe
• quiet
• gladden
• solace

2

as in to bother

to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation

I hate to bug you, but could you help me move this table?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• worry
• annoy
• disturb
• pester
• intrude (upon)
• trouble
• irritate
• plague
• torment
• harass
• devil
• provoke
• inconvenience
• dog
• gnaw
• aggravate
• anger
• chivy
• distress
• vex
• put out
• irk
• dun
• beset
• bedevil
• exasperate
• hassle
• fret
• afflict
• peeve
• rile
• outrage
• grate
• cut in (on)
• invade
• get
• rankle
• gall
• persecute
• pique
• roil
• chafe
• enrage
• rasp
• trespass
• infuriate
• besiege
• antagonize
• perturb
• nettle
• butt in
• inflame
• infringe
• madden
• encroach
• agitate
• incense
• beleaguer
• obtrude

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• forget
• slight
• leave
• disregard
• please
• satisfy
• appease
• placate
• delight
• disarm
• oblige
• gratify
• content
• console
• comfort
• mollify
• conciliate
• gladden

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bug

Noun

So a benchmark for a large language model today, like GPT-6 Astra or Claude Fable, might test an ability to solve difficult math problems or find security bugs in software. — Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

The change won’t be noticed by most of us, and switching to continuous time will be easier for our digital infrastructure—there will be much less risk of bugs or service outages arising from a leap second discontinuity. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

Irwin is uncertain if the second infestation of bed bugs last weekend were ones that weren’t caught the first time, or if a person brought new bed bugs in. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Not too much bugs him, but he sometimes is annoyed by his baby sister and doesn’t trust people who put pineapple on their pizza. — Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing bug

• bug off
• bug out