bug 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəg How to pronounce bug (audio)
Definition of bugnext
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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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

bug

2 of 2

verb

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

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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 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 bug
Noun
Some have a web form, or an email address, or a request to contact a bug bounty vendor. — Peter Garraghan, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Scrape Away Eggs Squash bug eggs are typically laid in clusters on the underside of plant leaves. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026
Verb
What really bugs me about this moment, and about the battle and its aftermath, is the lack of feeling. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug
  1. sucker
  2. disease
  3. annoy
  4. bother
  5. lover
  6. ailment
  7. irritate
  8. worry
Noun
  • And to die would have been a sucker’s dream, but this is a skull game chump and the past cannot help no man.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
  • Roses will often have suckers that grow from the rootstock of the rose plant.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 16 July 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • DeepMind’s AlphaFold, for example, has used to AI to make available new structures for more than 200 million proteins, opening new pathways for research into disease and medicine.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The lab got its start with studies of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the 1900s, when ranchers and cattle were dying from the then-unknown disease.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • To make matters worse, the team also polled people on what behaviors annoy them most about other beachgoers.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • And Zendaya not looking especially Greek doesn’t bother Shapiro in the least.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026
  • That clause has governed American creativity for more than two centuries on an assumption so obvious nobody bothered to write it down.
    — Charles Lew, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • While this verdant island makes a lovely spot for a hike and a picnic on a sunny day, art lovers have two additional reasons to make the trip.
    — Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • And the long-term effects have paid dividends, helping foster new Ghibli lovers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • The right-hander has been dealing with the ailment for more than a month.
    — Mike Fitzpatrick, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • But a lingering issue with his left knee is the most serious ailment on his docket.
    — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • Indoor air can carry particles and gases that irritate growing lungs and airways, making breathing problems and infections more likely.
    — Dr. Lauren Zajac, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026
  • Formaldehyde can irritate our eyes, throats, noses and lungs, but can also cause cancer — suggesting that exposure to persistent wildfire smoke could become more toxic as time goes on.
    — Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • While supporters say this is necessary for the UC to remain a leader in STEM fields, critics worry these tests are biased against low-income and minority students.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
  • Substantive verses are new terrain for Lacy, who, as a younger writer, worried more about hooks and beats.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
Definition of worry

Phrases Containing bug

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buffs
bug
bugaboo
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Cite this Entry

“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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