1
as in sucker
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something
a camera bug who loves taking candid shots at fairs and festivals
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
I can't go to work today because I've caught some bug that's going around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to annoy
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 to bother
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 bug
Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
Their strong scent repels certain bugs like flies and mosquitos—even wasps—on top of the repellent qualities of rosemary.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
The comings and goings of the many planes at the little field bugged the Marine Corps brass and rattled the hens at the chicken ranch that was once right about where Cold War-era bowlers would one day rattle the pins at Frontier Lanes.
—Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bug
Noun
Insecticides come in the form of a powder, liquid, or aerosol and are used around bed frames, mattresses, and box springs where bed bugs typically gather.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
Their strong scent repels certain bugs like flies and mosquitos—even wasps—on top of the repellent qualities of rosemary.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
Look for common signs of bed bugs on the mattress, box spring, headboard, and furniture, including bloodstains, droppings, or live insects.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 15 Jan. 2026
The comings and goings of the many planes at the little field bugged the Marine Corps brass and rattled the hens at the chicken ranch that was once right about where Cold War-era bowlers would one day rattle the pins at Frontier Lanes.
—Eric Duvall, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug
Noun
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Pisces are suckers for anything romantic.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
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Why to Prune Viburnums Viburnums seldom need pruning other than to remove damaged, diseased, and dead branches, or sucker shoots that grow straight up from the roots but don’t flower.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
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After whooping cough vaccinations declined in Dallas County over the last year, the preventable disease spiked to the highest numbers of infections officials have seen in over a decade, Huang said.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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Harm reduction can encompass a range of practices, including handing out free needles to slow the spread of disease, and many local leaders credit some of those efforts with recent drops in fatal overdoses.—
Blake Nelson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Maybe this will be the year when the owner stops being annoyed.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
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In the statement, the zoo said the mother may have thought her baby was annoyed with Punch, which upset her.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The man himself might have argued forcefully that the one didn’t prove the other, that many Muslims in his hometown never bothered to circumcise their children.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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But only part of that really bothered the Florida Department of Health about Sidney Moritz, once known as Sandy Montano.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Picture a waterfront bustling with bobbing fishing boats and the air tinged with the scent of fresh seafood, as San Hing Praya Street and Pak She Praya Road dish out alfresco dining scenes straight out of a sunset lover's dream.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
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Under a sprawling white tent on Miami Beach, thousands of food lovers gathered Saturday to eat, drink and celebrate in style.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But forward Ty Dellandrea, San Jose’s only other player on IR, is still considered weeks away from a return from a lower-body ailment.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
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But in addition to Romy Gonzalez, whose lingering shoulder ailment from last season will likely keep him from the Opening Day roster, the Red Sox have 2020 Gold Glove winner Brendan Rodgers in camp on a minor league deal, and the switch-hitting utility-man Nick Sogard.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And for Paramount, losing an expensive late-night comedian and irritating a few TV personalities may ultimately be the cost of doing business in a world where the biggest transactions could hinge on the feelings of a mercurial and demanding world leader.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
23 Feb. 2026
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If something irritates you, the Aries moon encourages you to speak up.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Anyone worried about corporate takeover was put at ease from day one.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
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The crowded field has some Democrats worried about the possibility of both Hilton and Bianco making it into the runoff, shutting out the party that has controlled the Governor’s Office since 2011 if Democrats split the vote.—
Grace Hase,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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