Pestering: meaning, definitions and examples

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pestering

 

[ ˈpɛstərɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

annoying others

Pestering refers to the act of persistently annoying or bothering someone, often through repeated requests or interruptions. This behavior can be seen in various contexts, from children pestering their parents for candy to individuals who repeatedly call or message someone despite being asked to stop. Pestering can create discomfort and frustration for the person on the receiving end and is often considered rude or inconsiderate. It can also indicate a lack of awareness of social cues or boundaries.

Synonyms

annoying, bothering, harassing, nagging, teasing

Examples of usage

  • Stop pestering your brother for his toys.
  • She kept pestering her boss for a promotion.
  • The children were pestering their parents for ice cream.
  • He doesn't like when people start pestering him with questions.
  • I don't want to keep pestering my friends about the party.

Translations

Translations of the word "pestering" in other languages:

🇵🇹 importunação

🇮🇳 दखल देना

🇩🇪 nervig

🇮🇩 mengganggu

🇺🇦 досаджування

🇵🇱 dokuczanie

🇯🇵 しつこいこと

🇫🇷 harcèlement

🇪🇸 acosar

🇹🇷 rahatsız etme

🇰🇷 성가시게 하다

🇸🇦 إزعاج

🇨🇿 obtěžování

🇸🇰 otravovanie

🇨🇳 烦扰

🇸🇮 nadlegovati

🇮🇸 trufla

🇰🇿 мазасыздандыру

🇬🇪 შეწუხება

🇦🇿 narahat etmək

🇲🇽 acosar

Etymology

The word 'pester' originates from the late 16th century, derived from the earlier term 'pest,' which is associated with the Latin word 'pestis,' meaning plague or contagion. Initially, 'pester' referred to causing discomfort in a general sense, but it evolved to encompass repeated annoyance or bother. Over time, as social interactions have changed, the term began to take on a more specific connotation of persistent annoyance, often in a context involving relationships, where one party fails to recognize the boundaries set by another. This evolution reflects societal views on communication and personal space, particularly the balance of expressing desires and respecting others' peace.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,969 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.