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

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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

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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

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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?

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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
To be fair, a genre that’s given us everything from brooding, sparkling emo kids who play baseball; a stake-wielding teen slayer who can’t quit the bad boy; and eccentric sidekicks who feast on bugs is ripe with material for mockery. — Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 Carolina hasn’t had to worry about this since 2023, back when Jaycee Horn was still fighting off the incessant injury bug and the team’s starting corners were Donte Jackson and CJ Henderson. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
The indictment revealed that prosecutors had bugged the Aisenbergs' home for three months after Sabrina's disappearance. — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 However, in-flight cabin etiquette is only one part of what’s bugging travelers this summer. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 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
  • The theory seems to be that there will always be another crop of suckers willing to pump money into the ecosystem, so the market will provide.
    — Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • These sucker shoots can quickly form a thicket of stems that are unsightly, inherently weak, and prone to storm damage if allowed to mature.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • The first is to dramatically accelerate the pace of basic science, and the second is to accelerate curing disease and extending health span.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
  • DeVeydt added that costs for inpatient services and pharmacy, particularly costly specialty pharmacy drugs for cancer and rare diseases, remain elevated.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • And now Snider found himself here, under a bright, blue sky, annoyed as a fireman examined the staples on the side of his head.
    — Geoff Edgers, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026
  • What annoys me is that this whole thing is called Roaring 20th, so why was there not a flapper and Great Gatsby theme?
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • Palo Alto Networks did that after buying [Israeli startup] CyberArk, but why would most companies bother?
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That woman was truly unbothered, a term tossed around online, but the literal act of not being bothered is impossible for most people beyond the quirkiest, like my onetime neighbor, or maybe Fran Lebowitz.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • Art lovers should aim to be there in April when Joali hosts its annual Imagi-Nature Art Festival.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The undead hero initially turns agains the X-Men and serves Apocalypse, but Gambit’s lover Rogue is able to save him by harnessing the enormous power of a Celestial and offering to sacrifice herself.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • But by the first week of September, the Dodgers could no longer argue that his poor performance wasn’t necessarily connected to his ailments.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • ChatGPT is not your doctor, although most people are already using it to find out more information about their ailments, hypothetical or otherwise.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • Tactics such as ragebait have only added to the fatigue, irritating enthusiasts already frustrated by the relentless churn of slop.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Patients may be advised to use gentle, fragrance-free products, keep the area moisturized, and avoid anything that further irritates the skin.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • More than half of people using AI at work worried that using it on important tasks would create exactly that impression.
    — Christoph Trattner, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Opponents worry that the changes would mean less money getting invested in rural housing, precisely when housing affordability issues are hitting those areas the hardest.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of worry

Phrases Containing bug

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buffs
bug
bugaboo
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Cite this Entry

“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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