pester

verb pes·ter \ ˈpe-stər \

|Updated on: 28 Jul 2018

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Examples: pester in a Sentence

Definition of pester

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

transitive verb

1 obsolete : overcrowd

2 : to harass with petty irritations : annoy

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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

No, not even royals are immune to being pestered by insects in the summertime.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Countess Sophie Had an Awkward Moment with a Bug While Riding with Meghan Markle To the Royal Ascot," 21 June 2018
She was pestered by pan-handlers and walked through restaurants filled with dozens of patrons, all focused on their meals and conversation.

— andrew webster, The Verge, "Cyberpunk 2077 is part RPG, part shooter, part GTA-style mayhem," 13 June 2018
To understand what Coach O has meant in the U.S., a one-time sports rival that became a big-hearted home, visit the GoFundMe page Ruotolo and others pestered her for permission to post.

— bryce miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Global soccer star who coached hundreds in San Diego area fighting cancer," 12 May 2018
The same information revolution that allows me to monitor deep space communications from a barstool also enables me to pester public affairs officials in Australia.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "The Time I Thought a Mars Rover Spoke To Me On a Barstool," 15 June 2018
Gator pesters Florida neighborhood, head-butts trapper, makes last-ditch effort to escape The park is near the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a major Miami-area tourist and entertainment attraction.

— joel shannon, USA TODAY, "Gator attacks, likely kills woman as she walked dogs in Florida," 8 June 2018
Baze said the suspect had pestered her daughter to go out with him for months.

— nick valencia, CNN, "Texas shooter yelled 'Woo Hoo' as he fired, survivor's mother says," 20 May 2018
William Ruhlman, according to a federal lawsuit, repeatedly pestered her with salacious e-mails and text messages.

— paul egan, Detroit Free Press, "Female officers face widespread sexual harassment in Michigan's prison system," 21 Apr. 2018
The Jaguars pestered and badgered and hit Brady frequently, evidenced by New England’s 3-for-12 performance on third downs.

— jarrett bell, USA TODAY, "Jaguars put on clinic on how to blow lead to Patriots," 21 Jan. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

pester Synonyms

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.