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

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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
However, in-flight cabin etiquette is only one part of what’s bugging travelers this summer. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bugging
  1. harassment
  2. bothering
  3. worrying
  4. disturbance
  5. annoying
  6. irritating
  7. persecuting
  8. getting
Noun
  • All 10 members of the court voted to extend the application of the Maria da Penha law for situations such as persecution, threats and harassment outside the home.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The turmoil contributed to the early retirement of longtime Registrar of Voters Cathy Darling Allen, who said years of harassment, threats and accusations stemming from false election-fraud allegations took a personal toll.
    — Drew Askeland, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of harassment
Verb
  • The one issue that is bothering me at or just before launch is the CPU's Wear and Tear management.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The arnica in this gel can help treat sore muscles, aches, swelling, or other pains that are bothering you, too.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bothering
Verb
  • But gone was the tension of worrying about pleasing a high-strung, perfectionist host.
    — Merrill Markoe, Deadline, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But the size of the debt is not the only thing that is worrying.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of worrying
Noun
  • This mosquito is more associated with human disturbance including containers left out in people’s backyards will draw them.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The cameras are designed to attract minimal attention and create as little disturbance as possible.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Verb
  • Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 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 annoying
Verb
  • Be sure to use a fragrance-free, gentle detergent to avoid irritating sensitive skin with any residue.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2026
  • There’s something uniquely irritating about being forced to listen to whatever a stranger has decided to watch on their phone.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 17 Aug. 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
  • Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The storm dumped more than a foot of rain over parts of the state, with the highest elevations getting more than 40 inches.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of getting

Browse Nearby Words

buggies
bugging
bugging off
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Cite this Entry

“Bugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bugging for Spanish Speakers

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