pester

verb

pes·​ter ˈpe-stər How to pronounce pester (audio)
pestered; pestering ˈpe-st(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce pester (audio)
Synonyms of pesternext

transitive verb

1
obsolete : overcrowd
2
: to harass with petty irritations : annoy

Synonyms of pester

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worry, annoy, harass, harry, plague, pester, tease mean to disturb or irritate by persistent acts.

worry implies an incessant goading or attacking that drives one to desperation.

pursued a policy of worrying the enemy

annoy implies disturbing one's composure or peace of mind by intrusion, interference, or petty attacks.

you're doing that just to annoy me

harass implies petty persecutions or burdensome demands that exhaust one's nervous or mental power.

harassed on all sides by creditors

harry may imply heavy oppression or maltreatment.

the strikers had been harried by thugs

plague implies a painful and persistent affliction.

plagued all her life by poverty

pester stresses the repetition of petty attacks.

constantly pestered with trivial complaints

tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.

children teased the dog

Examples of pester in a Sentence

Leave me alone! Stop pestering me! one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Andrew Dismukes as Sam-I-Am is pestering the unnamed breakfast hater (Mikey Day). — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026 Generally speaking, the Rays have a ton of speed, and their small ball tactics could pester a Yankees team that didn’t have the best bunt defense this year. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026 Llínas and his wife, actress Laura Peredas, circle a neighborhood in vain looking for a statue while being pestered by their children. — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026 Bowers was unable to see his rookie-year production in 2025 due to his PCL sprain and bone bruiser that pestered him since Week 1’s victory over the New England Patriots. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pester

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of pester was in 1548

Rhymes for pester

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Browse Nearby Words

Pestalozzian
pester
pesterer
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Cite this Entry

“Pester.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pester. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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