1
as in annoyed
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bothered
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
I hate to bug you, but could you help me move this table?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bugged
Instead, Ladinig says Pierre Haobsh bugged Henry Han's computer with a spyware app called a keylogger.
—
Natalie Morales, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Feeling good Weathers has been bugged by several injuries over the last few years.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
The comings and goings of the many planes at the little field bugged the Marine Corps brass and rattled the hens at the chicken ranch that was once right about where Cold War-era bowlers would one day rattle the pins at Frontier Lanes.
—Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Carol Meeting Manousos Doesn’t Go As Planned The meeting between the two immediately sparks conflict, with Manousos unwilling to step into Carol’s home or use the translate feature on her phone, suspicious that everything has been bugged.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Dec. 2025
The characters muse about the extreme likelihood that their apartments have been bugged.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Loktev makes her way into various apartments for commiserative gatherings and holiday celebrations — the midpoint of My Undesirable Friends is a delirious New Year’s party — where her hosts inevitably mention that their places are certainly bugged.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Natalie Morales, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Feeling good Weathers has been bugged by several injuries over the last few years.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
The comings and goings of the many planes at the little field bugged the Marine Corps brass and rattled the hens at the chicken ranch that was once right about where Cold War-era bowlers would one day rattle the pins at Frontier Lanes.
—Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Carol Meeting Manousos Doesn’t Go As Planned The meeting between the two immediately sparks conflict, with Manousos unwilling to step into Carol’s home or use the translate feature on her phone, suspicious that everything has been bugged.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 30 Dec. 2025
The characters muse about the extreme likelihood that their apartments have been bugged.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2025
Loktev makes her way into various apartments for commiserative gatherings and holiday celebrations — the midpoint of My Undesirable Friends is a delirious New Year’s party — where her hosts inevitably mention that their places are certainly bugged.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugged
Verb
-
As frustrating Saturn arrives in your 3rd House of Communication, you might be annoyed that others seem to misread you.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Betts gazed back with angst, momentarily annoyed with her coach.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But in securing gold, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara from Japan didn’t seem to be bothered by any of that.—
Alice Park,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The American government never even bothered to tell their family members.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For a long time your political cartoons published in the editorial pages have irritated me.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The song, which reclaims a derogatory term for Venezuelan female migrants, was interpreted as defiant and irritated the Venezuelan president, then facing widespread reports of electoral fraud.—
Leonor C. Suárez,
Rolling Stone,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That student is in the district’s medical assisting program, and has been emailing teachers worried about making up work and getting finals done.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
13 Feb. 2026
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Some who follow the Make America Healthy Again movement praised his decision, but former health officials and some medical experts worried the firings would sow distrust in the public health system and in vaccines that have been found to be safe and effective.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The result is that, despite existing household pains owing to more expensive fuel, a resurgent kidnapping crisis that exposes deep security vulnerabilities, and external pressure from a US government that claims Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, Tinubu has expanded his base and looks strong.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Branding peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists,’ and Christians that are persecuted every year as ‘Zionist mercenaries,’ is nothing but scapegoating.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugged. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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