as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another the endless pestering finally drove me to study at the library
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in teasing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in bothering
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing
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 pestering
Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026 In a game where the Stars smashed the Oilers, Hryckowian was pestering Edmonton players all night en route to drawing four penalties. —R.j. Coyle, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026 But this is now a 20-game stint of pestering Knicks defense — with no example better than during Sunday’s 25-point takedown of the San Antonio Spurs. —Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 Every day the press corps descended on both teams with pestering questions, some of which were obvious plants to promote products. —Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026 No kid brother tagging along, pestering him with questions, pushing up on his social circle. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 Dec. 2025 Hawke’s Hart holds serve in all of these scenes, motormouthing, pestering, insisting, utterly unable to help himself, sometimes in the most literal interpretation of the phrase. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 Meanwhile, the ewe who gave birth to her won't go away or stop pestering these human usurpers. —Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025 Alex Caruso was the ace in the hole, pestering and prodding Jokic to death in Game 7. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
There were almost no visible signs of this pestering affliction, which interfered with the rabbi’s sleep and therefore with his mental competence and his negotiation of daytime duties and professional matters. —Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Tiny eye-biting flies are swarming all over the San Gabriel Valley and pestering residents. —Nicole Comstock, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026 In a game where the Stars smashed the Oilers, Hryckowian was pestering Edmonton players all night en route to drawing four penalties. —R.j. Coyle, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026 But this is now a 20-game stint of pestering Knicks defense — with no example better than during Sunday’s 25-point takedown of the San Antonio Spurs. —Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026 Every day the press corps descended on both teams with pestering questions, some of which were obvious plants to promote products. —Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026 No kid brother tagging along, pestering him with questions, pushing up on his social circle. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 Dec. 2025 Hawke’s Hart holds serve in all of these scenes, motormouthing, pestering, insisting, utterly unable to help himself, sometimes in the most literal interpretation of the phrase. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 Meanwhile, the ewe who gave birth to her won't go away or stop pestering these human usurpers. —Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025 Alex Caruso was the ace in the hole, pestering and prodding Jokic to death in Game 7. —Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pestering
Noun
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Many involve access problems for, or harassment of, students with disabilities.— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
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Liman’s decision dropped Lively’s claims of harassment, defamation and conspiracy, meaning the trial will now center on alleged breach of contract and retaliation by Wayfarer and aiding and abetting retaliation by the PR firm working for Baldoni.— Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Or when Reggie purposefully annoys Arthur by having his son, Carmelo (Jalyn Hall), practice with his a cappella group in Arthur’s editing suite, a move that demonstrates the increasingly teasing affection between Arthur and Reggie.— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sit there like nothing is bothering you.— Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
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But that doesn’t excuse failing to execute on the ABCs of lobbying — such as not bothering even to show up at a hearing on a policy the mayor considers an urgent priority.— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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His tics are not naughty mischief, but an uncontrollable action.— Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
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Paltrow has been savvy at selling herself as naughty and nice.— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There’s an inherent troublemaking nature to him that can’t be repressed by the big Disney musical.— Tim Grierson, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2026
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Scottish actor John Hannah was Evelyn’s troublemaking brother Jonathan.— Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That was all the crafty cephalopod needed.— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
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While Jowell is crafty, Aaden is a lefty power pitcher who likes to rack up strikeouts.— Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pestering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/pestering. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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