bug 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəg How to pronounce bug (audio)
Definition of bugnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bug
Noun
Nothing beats the thrill of chasing the blinking bugs in grandma’s backyard in the dark, zooming around with Mason jars in hand. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 July 2026 As part of the fun, guests will be able to make a build-a-bug craft to take home. — Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026
Verb
What really bugs me about this moment, and about the battle and its aftermath, is the lack of feeling. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug
  1. sucker
  2. disease
  3. annoy
  4. bother
  5. lover
  6. ailment
  7. irritate
  8. worry
Noun
  • Locate the Suckers Before you get started, find the plant’s main stems, which will have many secondary shoots or leaves, called suckers, growing off of them.
    — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 18 July 2026
  • And to die would have been a sucker’s dream, but this is a skull game chump and the past cannot help no man.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • DeepMind’s AlphaFold, for example, has used to AI to make available new structures for more than 200 million proteins, opening new pathways for research into disease and medicine.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The lab got its start with studies of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the 1900s, when ranchers and cattle were dying from the then-unknown disease.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • Andreu Martínez of Spain humorously said in July 2024 that the use of squirt guns was to annoy the tourists a bit.
    — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 25 July 2026
  • Hotel-booking platform HotelTonight surveyed 447 of its American adult users in June about what annoys them the most during travel.
    — Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 21 July 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • Lowe’s marginal position in Britain doesn’t seem to bother his allies in the United States.
    — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026
  • She couldn’t be bothered to hear half of the testimony about carriage horses.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 26 July 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • For dessert, there’s a delicious coconut cake or, for the chocolate lovers, a fancy sort of s’mores cake.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • That Lane, an animal lover who excels at cracking open crazy stories with humor, heart, and a litany of perspectives, would follow Flaco is no surprise.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 July 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • The right-hander has been dealing with the ailment for more than a month.
    — Mike Fitzpatrick, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • But a lingering issue with his left knee is the most serious ailment on his docket.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • Honest, accurate journalism may sometimes irritate politicians, but our right to report and present that reporting to the public without government interference is fully protected by the US Constitution.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • It must be made from a comfortable material that won’t chafe or otherwise irritate the skin.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • Mint Julep Experiences has built its business around making those trips easy, and the new Buffalo Bus gives travelers a straightforward way to visit one of Kentucky's most famous distilleries without having to worry about logistics.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • What’s more, the property’s Pooch Program offers dog sitters and walkers (for a fee) as part of its concierge service, so pet parents can enjoy everything the iconic hotel has to offer without worrying about what to do with their pup.
    — Rebecca R. Norris, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of worry

Phrases Containing bug

Browse Nearby Words

buffs
bug
bugaboo
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bug

Nglish: Translation of bug for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of mitigate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All