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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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?
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bug
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Claude Mythos Preview is able to find bugs, some of which are critical, that have previously been difficult to detect, Anthropic said.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
But so much of my journalism has been about something that’s bugging me.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bug
Noun
Several of the vulnerabilities discovered using the model had existed undetected for years, according to the company, the oldest being a 27-year-old bug in OpenBSD—an operating system best known for its strong security.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Claude Mythos Preview is able to find bugs, some of which are critical, that have previously been difficult to detect, Anthropic said.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
So, all the things people were yelling about with Southwest weren’t bugging me.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026
But so much of my journalism has been about something that’s bugging me.
—Jack Denton, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug
Noun
-
But to think that suckers get an even break when insiders have information that assures them of winning is folly.—
William Mersey,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Invasive vines like Virginia creeper, English ivy, and buckthorn can strangle trees, for example, and some aggressive trees may spread via underground suckers and roots.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Fox, 64, has worked for decades with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with at age 29 in the early 1990s but kept private until 1998.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
For instance, there may be more car crashes, animal bites, property damage and zoonotic disease transmission.—
Daniel T. Blumstein,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Most gnats cause little harm but annoy us to no end.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Getting dropped to Division 3 this season does annoy the Scotties.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Heat’s third matchup of the season against the Raptors didn’t go well either, as Toronto’s length on the defensive end again bothered Miami.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Along the way, Melton strained his left thumb — and that clearly bothered him.—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That’s probably why class-crossed lovers make such fertile ground for fiction—look at Heathcliff and Cathy, or poor Scudder and Maurice.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Options for 2026 include food cruises that travel through Burgundy and Provence and a 15-day wine lovers cruise on the Rhine and Seine Rivers.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Brown was ruled out with Achilles tendonitis, the same ailment that sidelined him for wins over Atlanta and Charlotte late last month.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Autoimmune diseases—a broad and complex category of ailments including rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes—have long puzzled researchers.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Strong cleaning products may irritate sensitive airways and skin.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Oklahoma City is irritating, but never stops winning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Murray worries about upholding his best friend’s wishes.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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Horner also talked about being concerned about losing his job, wanting to see his child and worrying about what was going to happen to him, Espinoza said.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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