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
Power gains are bugged to be too low for a new power grind that no one wants to do anyway.
—
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
His not winning it was considered a failure, and that bugged him.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 21 Aug. 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
Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
His not winning it was considered a failure, and that bugged him.
—Brody Miller, New York Times, 21 Aug. 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
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In practice, Musk bowed to authoritarian governments or banned critical journalists when their reporting annoyed him.—
Jacob Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Christian is annoyed by Max’s temporary tyranny and overall seems … normal.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But Bob Say, owner of Los Angeles’ Freakbeat Records, for one, isn’t all that bothered.—
Roy Trakin,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The clutter bothered Counsell during his first year on the job.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The decision by Aaron Turner, Kuminga’s agent, to go on a media tour in recent weeks while negotiating publicly in hopes of landing a better offer for Kuminga, irritated some with the organization, according to league sources.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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And the web designer from South Dakota certainly must have irritated her former final two ally Vince Panaro on her way out of the Big Brother house.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Not knowing that Pink Floyd is a rock band, Sullivan was initially worried he’d been paired with a heavy metal fan.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Spears has been sharing dancing videos on her Instagram account that have delighted some fans and worried others for at least five years.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This Committee was initially created during the McCarthy Era, a dark time when the federal government repressed and persecuted American citizens for their political beliefs.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
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Leatherface attacks, but the real villains turn out to be the townsfolk who persecuted the Sawyers after the original massacre.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Part of the controversy appears to have related to the fact that the carpet covered tile that, if disturbed, could expose children to asbestos.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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Boxelder bugs can also release an unpleasant smell when crushed or otherwise disturbed.—
Andrea Beck,
Better Homes & Gardens,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugged. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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