pester

verb pes·ter \ ˈpe-stər \

Definition of pester

pestered; pestering play \ˈpe-st(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

1 obsolete :overcrowd

2 :to harass with petty irritations :annoy

See pester defined for English-language learners

See pester defined for kids

Examples of pester in a Sentence

Leave me alone! Stop pestering me!
one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing

Recent Examples of pester from the Web

Pay now or wait for the free version and be pestered about microtransactions either way?

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Bethesda’s big VR games now have release dates, and they’re all in 2017," 22 Aug. 2017
In the top of the fourth, Florence pestered Evansville starter Hunter Ackerman (7-5) for four runs.

— enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Freedom near playoffs with big win streak," 15 Aug. 2017
For years, Gordon has pestered manager Ned Yost about playing center field.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "Watch Alex Gordon rob Chicago’s Nicky Delmonico of a homer in Sunday’s Royals victory," 13 Aug. 2017
People were pestering customers going in and out of a store Tuesday in the 1900 block of Pulaski Highway.

— The Aegis, "Police blotter: From Aberdeen to Fallston to Street," 14 July 2017
Tribe senior scouting director John Mirabelli was being pestered by scout Ramon Pena to look at Ramirez.

— terry pluto, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Browns need to think twice about Brock Osweiler and Cody Kessler -- Terry Pluto (video)," 13 July 2017
Any Trump-Putin meeting -- whether official or unofficial -- will likely be tense as both have pestered each other in the lead-up to the G20.

— dan merica, CNN, "Trump prepares for Putin showdown and vital day at G20," 7 July 2017
Manager Joe Maddon said preferred to let the Cubs player development staff handle Schwarber and not pester him with questions.

— mark gonzales, chicagotribune.com, "Kyle Schwarber could rejoin Cubs by end of homestand," 4 July 2017
Being out in nature, confronted with only the melodic sensory inputs of wildlife and the elements — not the constant bleeping and tic-inducing buzzing of my phone — will be the salve for whatever pesters me.

— alli harvey, Alaska Dispatch News, "When camping in Alaska gets a little annoying," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pester.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pester

modification of Middle French empestrer to hobble, embarrass, from Vulgar Latin *impastoriare, from Latin in- + Late Latin pastoria tether — more at pastern

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1548

See Words from the same year

pester Synonyms

Synonyms

bug, chivy (or chivvy), disturb, intrude (upon), bother

Related Words

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

Near Antonyms

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

Synonym Discussion of pester

worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts. worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.