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
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
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Recent Examples of bugging
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
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
Noun
-
Two children at a Redlands elementary school faced racial harassment, discrimination and teasing for months, resulting in them being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, their mother alleged in a lawsuit filed against the school district.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The Big 12 cites cases where government threats of retaliation, including prosecution and legal harassment, constitute an infringement of the freedom of association.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Instead, the reviews were largely muted, with analysts not bothering to adjust their revenue estimates for 2027 or 2028, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
17 June 2026
-
That appears to be bothering people, as the broadcast noted some pointed conversations among the Spanish team during the hydration break.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
In Disclosure Day, Jane’s worrying is curious, coming from someone who meant to become a nun.—
Luis Parrales,
The Atlantic,
18 June 2026
-
Looking to be quite aggressive in a football sense and always looking for the solution and what can happen instead of worrying about what the problem is.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Those supporters were left unchallenged by stewards, despite FIFA winning a court hearing enabling them to lawfully prohibit people showing the lion-and-sun flags on the grounds of them carrying a political message and potentially causing disturbances.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The coordinated attack left one local police officer, who was responding to a disturbance call at the detention center, shot in the neck.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
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
Verb
-
This behavior isn’t just irritating or upsetting.—
Olga Khazan,
The Atlantic,
15 June 2026
-
How to avoid chiggers Aside from the potential risk of anaphylactic allergy and severe illness, chiggers are, well, irritating.—
Eva Flowe
June 11,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
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
Verb
-
Tim Hill plunked pinch-hitter Jacob Gonzalez and Tristan Peters with pitches before getting an out.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
But the Royals produced an avalanche of offense, with every starter getting into the act.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bugging. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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