Synonyms of pester

pester

verb

ˈpe-stər 

as in to bother

to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation

one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• annoy
• disturb
• worry
• harass
• bug
• irritate
• provoke
• intrude (upon)
• torment
• chivy
• bedevil
• trouble
• aggravate
• exasperate
• vex
• irk
• rile
• anger
• invade
• dog
• devil
• besiege
• gnaw
• persecute
• rankle
• beset
• fret
• inconvenience
• dun
• antagonize
• plague
• afflict
• distress
• perturb
• get
• roil
• infuriate
• beleaguer
• put out
• gall
• inflame
• chafe
• hassle
• agitate
• encroach
• enrage
• pique
• infringe
• trespass
• cut in (on)
• outrage
• grate
• obtrude
• butt in
• peeve
• incense
• rasp
• madden
• nettle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignore
• leave
• forget
• slight
• disregard
• please
• appease
• placate
• oblige
• disarm
• satisfy
• delight
• gratify
• mollify
• conciliate
• content
• comfort
• console
• gladden

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb pester contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of pester are annoy, harass, harry, plague, tease, and worry. While all these words mean "to disturb or irritate by persistent acts," pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

When could annoy be used to replace pester?

The words annoy and pester can be used in similar contexts, but annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

When can harass be used instead of pester?

In some situations, the words harass and pester are roughly equivalent. However, harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

When would harry be a good substitute for pester?

Although the words harry and pester have much in common, harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

In what contexts can plague take the place of pester?

The words plague and pester are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

When might tease be a better fit than pester?

While in some cases nearly identical to pester, tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

When is worry a more appropriate choice than pester?

The meanings of worry and pester largely overlap; however, worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pester

Hohenhaus explains that bored cats may pester owners for attention, which is often mistaken for hunger. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026

Tiny eye-biting flies are swarming all over the San Gabriel Valley and pestering residents. —Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

Scheierman also hit two earlier threes, grabbed five rebounds and pestered Gilgeous-Alexander to force a third-quarter turnover to help Boston take down the defending NBA champions 119-109. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

Minnesota still possesses enough perimeter defensive talent to pester opponents on a nightly basis. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Mar. 2026