bugging 1 of 2

noun

as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another this perpetual bugging while I'm working is driving me nuts!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bugging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bug
1
as in bothering
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in worrying
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation I hate to bug you, but could you help me move this table?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bugging
Verb
The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026 His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2026 Get clear about what’s bugging you. — Usa Today, USA Today, 26 May 2026 Woke up this morning, still kind of bugging me. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 26 May 2026 Although pest control companies offer lethal solutions such as carpenter bee traps or chemical treatments, the best way to keep carpenter bees from bugging you is using stained, sealed, varnished or treated wood in building projects. — Sarah Linn april 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026 So, all the things people were yelling about with Southwest weren’t bugging me. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 21 Mar. 2026 But so much of my journalism has been about something that’s bugging me. — Jack Denton, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026 And also, Bill has to be home and also not bugging me. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugging
  1. harassment
  2. bothering
  3. worrying
  4. disturbance
  5. annoying
  6. irritating
  7. persecuting
  8. getting
Noun
  • While the felony complaint focused on threats made to Demuth, the State Patrol also sought harassment restraining orders on behalf of Demuth and Anderson.
    — Lauren Breunig, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026
  • But more than half could picture quitting due to security concerns, and almost half accepted the possibility that harassment or hate speech could send them packing.
    — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026
Definition of harassment
Verb
  • Travis was snapped having a blast bothering Jason as the duo attended a match between Jupiter Links GC and The Bay Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 3.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • For now, the Royals hope to figure out exactly what’s bothering him.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of bothering
Verb
  • Spending so much time with Raskova’s frown was a miscalculation, when Sasha and Anastasia falling for each other, and Valya worrying about how Tanya’s past would haunt them forever, were so much more compelling.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2026
  • Permission to retire, to spend, to travel, to help family members and to stop worrying about market headlines.
    — Nathaniel Tilton, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of worrying
Noun
  • With breaking the sound barrier comes a sonic boom, a massive noise disturbance that led the FAA to ban supersonic flight over land in the first place.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 July 2026
  • These persons came to our city with the intent on causing harm, injury, and destruction, bringing harassment, disturbances, and mayhem.
    — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of disturbance
Verb
  • Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.
    — Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
  • My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.
    — Tyler Hayes, PC Magazine, 13 May 2026
Definition of annoying
Verb
  • But these creams are specifically formulated with textures and ingredients that’ll support the skin without irritating the delicate eye area.
    — Daley Quinn, Glamour, 9 July 2026
  • Unanswered workplace messages are a common, irritating phenomenon, often perceived as deliberate avoidance despite recipients being active elsewhere.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of irritating
Verb
  • Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
    — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
Definition of persecuting
Verb
  • Swinging his hips, moaning into the mic and briefly getting promiscuous with a mic stand was the authenticity that the majority-millennial crowd expected.
    — Sophie Lindberg July 11, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
  • The Dodgers have reason for optimism heading into the second half with three top pitchers getting closer to returning.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of getting

Browse Nearby Words

buggies
bugging
bugging off
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on bugging

Nglish: Translation of bugging for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of yaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All