pester

verb

pes·​ter ˈpe-stər 

pestered; pestering ˈpe-st(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

obsolete : overcrowd

2

: to harass with petty irritations : annoy

Synonyms

• bother
• bug
• chivy
• chivvy
• disturb
• intrude (upon)

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

Examples of pester in a Sentence

Leave me alone! Stop pestering me!

one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing

Recent Examples on the Web

But on cross-examination, prosecutors introduced 20 pages of text messages to devastating effect, portraying an unresponsive father who had other priorities, was not always interested in seeing her and pestered her about errands in the middle of the night. —Matt Viser, Washington Post, 12 June 2024

Caballero, dancing off the bag, then pestered Gil into a balk that tied the game at one. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2024

Mixed with some trendy breakbeats to energize a chorus about embracing the burning heart of youth, Twice has a dance-inducing feel-good anthem just waiting for a stan to pester everyone to stream. —Zoe Guy, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2024

The other senator has virtually turned a deaf ear to her own constituents — even her own campaign committee — asking to not be further pestered with requests to support MAiD legislation, even as Minnesotans consistently and reliably poll at 75% support for the law. —Letter Writers, Twin Cities, 2 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pester

verb

pes·​ter ˈpes-tər 

pestered; pestering -t(ə-)riŋ 

: annoy, bother