badger 1 of 2

badger

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word badger distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of badger are bait, chivy, heckle, hector, and hound. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

When could bait be used to replace badger?

The words bait and badger are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

When might chivy be a better fit than badger?

The words chivy and badger can be used in similar contexts, but chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

When is it sensible to use heckle instead of badger?

The synonyms heckle and badger are sometimes interchangeable, but heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

In what contexts can hector take the place of badger?

Although the words hector and badger have much in common, hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

When would hound be a good substitute for badger?

The meanings of hound and badger largely overlap; however, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

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 badger
Verb
Trump appointed Powell in 2017 and has been badgering the Fed chair from the start. Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025 Speed isn’t Thomas’ game, but badgering receivers into submission until the QB decides to stop looking their way works just as well. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
Previous studies have shown anything from amphibians to small birds, eggs and snails in ferret badger feces. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2025 Wolverines are members of the weasel family, like ferrets and badgers, and are known for being ferocious and cunning carnivores. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for badger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badger
Verb
  • Affectionately, the 35-year-old pop star is not known for setting or chasing trends, instead using fashion to tease new musical eras or evoke a sense of girl-next-door relatability.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 29 June 2025
  • The historic broadcast network began teasing the multiple Emmy winner’s birthday as early as June 13.
    Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Deer and rabbits typically don’t like the spicy-scented foliage.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 20 June 2025
  • Many purported sightings of mountain lions in Oklahoma turn out to be other animals, including bobcats, house cats, dogs, coyotes, foxes, deer and rabbits.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • Bruce spent about 50 minutes on the field before the ceremony, where he was hounded by well-wishers.
    Patrick Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2025
  • Clark received the inbounds pass from Sophie Cunningham, but couldn’t get a shot up after being hounded by Cloud.
    Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • People and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals such as raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, coyotes, which carry a higher risk of human exposure and a need for rabies post-exposure treatment.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2025
  • Many purported sightings of mountain lions in Oklahoma turn out to be other animals, including bobcats, house cats, dogs, coyotes, foxes, deer and rabbits.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Marvel's more impressive big swing was getting audiences to fall in love with a talking raccoon, a tree and their motley crew of space misfits.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 June 2025
  • But dogs on bear hunts may kill raccoons and foxes and disturb other wildlife, argued Adam Sugalski, executive director of One Protest and its Bear Defenders campaign.
    Zoey Thomas, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • At the same time, marten populations shot up and the researchers began to see their scat in new areas.
    Siddhant Pusdekar, Journal Sentinel, 5 July 2024
  • This acquisition will improve the habitat for Wisconsin’s endangered American marten, which has been facing a dwindling habitat.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The otters, however, were not very subtle in their escape.
    Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 12 June 2025
  • Young gators can become the prey of otters, fish, raccoons, wading birds and even larger alligators.
    Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • For the past 20 years, conservationists in Spain worked to rehabilitate their European beaver populations and eventually noticed beavers living closer and closer to the border with Portugal, the organization said.
    Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
  • This led to a chain of cause and effect (a trophic cascade) that affected beavers, birds, and even the flow of the river.
    Nitin Sekar, ArsTechnica, 5 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Badger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badger. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.

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