Pester: meaning, definitions and examples

Often used when someone repeatedly asks for something in a mildly irritating way.

• The children would pester their parents for sweets every time they visited the store.
• She kept pestering him with questions about the project.

Used to describe causing someone to feel slightly angry or irritated.

• His loud chewing really annoyed everyone at the table.
• She was annoyed by his constant interruptions.

Generally implies causing inconvenience or mild disturbance. It can be more polite than some alternatives.

• I'm sorry to bother you, but could you help me with this?
• He didn’t want to bother her with his problems.

Used to describe aggressive pressure or intimidation, often with a negative connotation.

• She felt harassed by her boss's constant demands.
• They reported being harassed by strangers on the street.

Used when someone persistently and repeatedly asks or pressures someone for something. It often implies a nuisance.

• Reporters badgered the celebrity with questions outside the event.
• He finally agreed to go after being badgered by his friends.

Describes continually criticizing or complaining to someone in an attempt to change their behavior; often used in the context of relationships.

• She nagged him about his lack of effort around the house.
• He felt his mother was always nagging him to study harder.

Used when someone repeatedly bothers another person, often with questions or demands, in a persistent but usually not overly aggressive manner.

• Stop pestering your sister with questions.
• He pestered me all day to borrow my car.

Refers to a person or thing causing mild to moderate irritation through their actions or behavior. Typically less intense than 'irritant'.

• My little brother is such an annoyer when I'm trying to study.
• That loud music is an annoyer for the entire neighborhood.

Describes someone or something that causes minor annoyance or inconvenience, typically in a way that is troublesome rather than aggressive.

• The barking dog next door is such a nuisance.
• He is becoming a nuisance with his constant requests.

Used for something that consistently causes discomfort or frustration, often with a stronger negative connotation than 'annoyer'.

• Noise from the construction site has become a major irritant.
• She finds his constant interruptions to be a serious irritant.