bugged

past tense of bug
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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 bugged The indictment revealed that prosecutors had bugged the Aisenbergs' home for three months after Sabrina's disappearance. Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, a law-enforcement agency known as NABU, had bugged Mindich’s apartment in Kyiv, and detectives picked up his conversations about Fire Point. Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026 The group alleged that as well as hacking their phones, journalists from the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday tapped landlines and bugged houses and cars. K.j. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026 When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026 Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him. Dan Hayes, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026 Three people told the Washington Examiner that Scott had become paranoid that Lewandowski was spying on him through his work phone and had bugged his office. Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026 Underwood went on The Bachelor as a straight man, made a connection with Randolph, broke up with her, bugged her car, and then was hit with a restraining order. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026 Instead, Ladinig says Pierre Haobsh bugged Henry Han's computer with a spyware app called a keylogger. Natalie Morales, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugged
Verb
  • One guy in cargo shorts and a battered Ramones T-shirt kept casting dirty looks at the sky, clearly annoyed at the thumping of the TV news helicopters — there were at least three overhead at all times — drowning out his commentary.
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • What annoyed me the most, though, was the way the meditation teachers talked, which tended toward New Age–isms in passive voice.
    Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • But Covid-19 layoffs aside, the San Francisco company hasn’t bothered to tidy up along the way, its chief executive says.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Never even bothered to deny any of the accusations that would eventually lead to Wednesday’s stunning NBA ruling against the LA Clippers in this landmark salary cap circumvention case.
    Sam Amick, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The comments irritated Ilicali, who took to social media in response.
    Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • But the idea has irritated California’s billionaire class, and some have left the state in protest or threatened to do so.
    Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • Despite this baggage, the economic report her new organization drafted has concerned lawmakers worried about affordability.
    Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • On Monday, Facebook posts about the Morris Barn in downtown Matthews began to circulate, with many residents worried the barn was falling into disrepair.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Many see Trump as the only president to defend Nigerian Christians; his administration claims they are being persecuted by Islamist groups.
    Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Fernanda risked her life not only to protect works of art during the war, but also to help politically persecuted people escape the Fascist regime.
    Roberto Prieto, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugged. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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