pester
verb
pes·ter ˈpe-stər 
pestered; pestering ˈpe-st(ə-)riŋ
transitive verb
1
obsolete : overcrowd
2
: to harass with petty irritations : annoy
Synonyms
- bother
- bug
- chivy
- chivvy
- disturb
- intrude (upon)
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Leave me alone! Stop pestering me! one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing
Recent Examples on the Web For the Gulf Coast region, flooding may wreak havoc on any outdoor holiday plans as a stationary front continues to pester an area that does not need more rain. 
Allison Chinchar, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 The woman was able to lock herself in a room and call 911, but Clark continued to pester her the next day with text messages and phone calls, Assistant State’s Attorney Rita Wisthoff-Ito said. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 18 May 2022 Through Tonight: Showers and possibly more than one thunderstorm could pester us into the early morning hours. Washington Post, 1 May 2022 The Cavs didn’t have Allen to pester reigning MVP Jokic like the first matchup in Denver. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 19 Mar. 2022 Mazzetti eventually left the coffee shop, but O'Keefe followed him with a film crew and continued to pester him. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 11 Mar. 2022 If anything, the feature above might give scammers a whole new way to pester iPhone users. Yoni Heisler, BGR, 28 Jan. 2022 All the Way, a Netflix Christmas rom-com about Peter (Michael Urie), who brings his best Nick (Philemon Chambers) home for the holidays as his boyfriend so his family doesn't pester him about being single. Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE.com, 24 Dec. 2021 Tight supplies, higher prices and limited selections are likely to continue to pester the market, dealers and economists say. David Lyons, sun-sentinel.com, 6 Nov. 2021 See More
Allison Chinchar, CNN, 2 Sep. 2022 The woman was able to lock herself in a room and call 911, but Clark continued to pester her the next day with text messages and phone calls, Assistant State’s Attorney Rita Wisthoff-Ito said. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 18 May 2022 Through Tonight: Showers and possibly more than one thunderstorm could pester us into the early morning hours. Washington Post, 1 May 2022 The Cavs didn’t have Allen to pester reigning MVP Jokic like the first matchup in Denver. Chris Fedor, cleveland, 19 Mar. 2022 Mazzetti eventually left the coffee shop, but O'Keefe followed him with a film crew and continued to pester him. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 11 Mar. 2022 If anything, the feature above might give scammers a whole new way to pester iPhone users. Yoni Heisler, BGR, 28 Jan. 2022 All the Way, a Netflix Christmas rom-com about Peter (Michael Urie), who brings his best Nick (Philemon Chambers) home for the holidays as his boyfriend so his family doesn't pester him about being single. Greta Bjornson, PEOPLE.com, 24 Dec. 2021 Tight supplies, higher prices and limited selections are likely to continue to pester the market, dealers and economists say. David Lyons, sun-sentinel.com, 6 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
modification of Middle French empestrer to hobble, embarrass, from Vulgar Latin *impastoriare, from Latin in- + Late Latin pastoria tether — more at pastern
First Known Use
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
pester
verb
pes·ter ˈpe-stər
pestered; pestering
: to bother again and again
pestered 1 of 2
adjective
as in badgered
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- badgered
- harassed
- hassled
- tried
- tormented
- plagued
- bedeviled
- frustrated
- tested
- tortured
- harried
- provoked
- haggled
- annoyed
- inconvenienced
- bothered
- irritated
- persecuted
- vexed
- exasperated
- aggravated
- irked
- perturbed
- galled
- peeved
- upset
- put out
- troubled
- displeased
- disturbed
- angered
- narked
- angry
- pinpricked
- infuriated
- irate
- indignant
- distressed
- riled
- outraged
- teed off
- rankled
- scunnered
- steaming
- inflamed
- piqued
- roiled
- shirty
- mad
- enflamed
- cross
- sore
- huffy
- fretful
- cantankerous
- irritable
- resentful
- peevish
- dyspeptic
- testy
- irascible
- petulant
- snappish
- disapproving
- churlish
- grouchy
- bristly
- ireful
- grumpy
- crabby
- bilious
- snuffy
- choleric
- touchy
- fussy
- ill-humored
- cranky
- bearish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleased
- satisfied
- happy
- delighted
- content
- calm
- placid
- serene
- tranquil
- peaceable
- pacific
pestered
2 of 2verb
as in bothered
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing Synonyms & Similar Words
- bothered
- worried
- harassed
- disturbed
- bugged
- annoyed
- tormented
- provoked
- chivvied
- angered
- irritated
- troubled
- hassled
- bedeviled
- chivied
- exasperated
- plagued
- dogged
- irked
- vexed
- inconvenienced
- aggravated
- besieged
- riled
- invaded
- fretted
- nettled
- beleaguered
- rankled
- got
- beset
- intruded (upon)
- infuriated
- gnawed
- incensed
- distressed
- peeved
- perturbed
- enraged
- persecuted
- antagonized
- afflicted
- galled
- piqued
- chafed
- dunned
- outraged
- agitated
- roiled
- put out
- inflamed
- rasped
- trespassed
- maddened
- encroached
- grated
- deviled
- infringed
- devilled
- enflamed
- obtruded
- vext
- butted in
- cut in (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignored
- left
- obliged
- disregarded
- forgot
- appeased
- slighted
- placated
- delighted
- pleased
- satisfied
- mollified
- gratified
- disarmed
- consoled
- contented
- comforted
- conciliated
- gladdened