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 has been badgering Powell and other Fed officials to cut rates for months, but Powell has said the independent agency isn’t influenced by politics and will do what’s best for the economy. Paul Davidson, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2025 Without badgering her, continue to educate your roommate on the need for water discipline and the urgency of conserving it. Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 30 July 2025
Noun
Sunshine Sean guards his feelings the way mama badgers guard their young. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 4 Aug. 2025 In 2024, the database also includes planes colliding with three alligators in Florida, a mongoose in Hawaii, a badger in North Dakota and numerous coyotes, bats, skunks and opossums. Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for badger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badger
Verb
  • Joe LaCava violated Rory’s airspace on the 18th green while taunting the same gallery that had teased his player, Patrick Cantlay, who had reportedly declined to wear a team hat to protest the lack of player compensation at such a big event.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The trailer for the upcoming fourth season of CBS‘ Fire Country teases the aftermath of the series’ emotional Season 3 finale, which, as Deadline reported exclusively, marked the exits as series regulars of original cast members Stephanie Arcila and Billy Burke.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In Season 3, Arisu follows Usagi into Borderland, just like Alice does the white rabbit to Wonderland.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
  • And the rabbit in the moonlight pool was trembling, trembling.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Italian city imposes a tourist tax on dogs Dog owners visiting the Italian city of Bolzano will be hounded for taxes to offset the cost of street cleaning and to fund new parks.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The former is the owner of a New York City hotspot; the latter is a man on the run from loan sharks, with heaps of personal issues and bad debts hounding him.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Rabies can be found in many other wildlife species, including raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
  • There’s a talking fox and plenty of heart, thanks to themes of found family, community and healing.
    Jamie Harrow, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But when raccoons move in too close, trouble follows.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Rabies can be found in many other wildlife species, including raccoons, skunks, coyotes and foxes.
    Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Levi studies the endangered Humboldt marten, a small carnivore that lives on the Northern California and Southern Oregon coast.
    Andrew Cunningham, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
  • 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
  • There’s an art gallery, the Birds of Prey Center, an otter exhibit, and Desertarium, which features turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs, and more.
    Lauren Jones, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025
  • And all of a sudden, an otter comes right up to the glass and begins interacting with them, soon joined by a second otter.
    Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In this case, the engineers did not reshape logs that had been carved by a beaver.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The company is well known for its Beaver Nuggets, homemade brisket and iconic beaver mascot.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Badger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badger. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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