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
He is wearied but stays firm in the notion that his job isn’t to badger and demean the half of the country that disagrees with him. Ismail Muhammad, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025 Elliott Hill went from badgering a Nike executive for an internship to leading the company four years after retiring. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
The country started breeding the dogs over 300 years ago to hunt badgers, according to the American Kennel Club. Raven Brunner, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025 Saxon badgers his younger brother, Lochlan (Sam Nivola) about putting on muscle, which is apparently achieved by drinking lots of protein shakes. Erik Kain, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for badger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badger
Verb
  • Prevost was so dedicated to becoming a priest, his brother would tease him about being the pope.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 11 May 2025
  • However, the new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has teased an agreement over the terms for such a ceasefire as Kyiv's allies meet in the Ukrainian capital this weekend.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Most repellents have been developed for deer but may work for rabbits, too.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • The night winds down with the final act performed by Nate, the magician, and Lara, the rabbit.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 May 2025
Verb
  • Lu Dort struggles on offense For all intents and purposes, Lu Dort, whose primary job in this series is to hound Jamal Murray for 48 minutes, is doing a solid job defensively.
    Kelly Iko, New York Times, 10 May 2025
  • Charlie is just a person in a unique position to help, so of course she’s persistently hounded by people who need it — and lots of people need it!
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • City officials are warning anyone who has been in contact with the fox to seek medical attention.
    Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2025
  • The arrows in the second photo point to the fox's bushy tail and to where the animal's head is, which is pointed down out of sight in the picture.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • How is Chewy the raccoon? Chewy the raccoon was unharmed, and police determined that Vidal did have the proper documentation needed to own the raccoon.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 7 May 2025
  • Unlike some wildlife species, raccoons (Procyon lotor) thrive even in urban areas.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 7 May 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
  • More than 3,000 tropical and subtropical species of plants and trees, as well as the inhabitants of the Everglades Wildlife Sanctuary: alligators, bobcats, otters, eagles, a black bear and, of course, flamingos.
    Kari Barnett, Sun Sentinel, 13 May 2025
  • Thanks to Baum’s work, Jockey’s Ridge remains hospitable to more than 160 types of birds, and 38 types of reptiles and amphibians call it home, along with otters, coyotes, foxes, rabbits and even at least one bobcat.
    Amy Brecount White, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 May 2025
Noun
  • In Alaska and Canada, beavers are pushing north, moving into tundra regions where warmer temperatures have made new territory accessible.
    Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • The original trail had long since been dammed and flooded by beavers, which had arrived in the 1940s after a disastrous idea by the Argentine government to start a fur trade.
    Olivia James, Outside Online, 24 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Badger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badger. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

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