badger 1 of 2

verb

Definition of badgernext
as in to tease
to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders He's always badgering me about the dishes.

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badger

2 of 2

noun

as in rabbit
the pelt or fur of a badger The boutique features a variety of scarfs, including badger, fox, and ermine.

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word badger distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of badger are bait, chivy, heckle, hector, and hound. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

When could bait be used to replace badger?

The words bait and badger are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

When might chivy be a better fit than badger?

The words chivy and badger can be used in similar contexts, but chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

When is it sensible to use heckle instead of badger?

The synonyms heckle and badger are sometimes interchangeable, but heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

In what contexts can hector take the place of badger?

Although the words hector and badger have much in common, hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

When would hound be a good substitute for badger?

The meanings of hound and badger largely overlap; however, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

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 badger
Verb
As aldermen badgered the buyer, seller and Johnson’s top lawyers during the no-vote hearing, some zeroed in on the mayor, accusing his team of being unnecessarily secretive. — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 The stunning outcome caps a career like few others and shows the extent of the president’s ability to badger, badmouth and eventually boot out his political adversaries — and that no lawmaker is apparently safe. — ABC News, 20 May 2026
Noun
Both minks and otters are mustelids, a family of carnivores that also includes badgers, weasels, and wolverines. — Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Although honey badgers are often described online as though venom simply doesn’t affect them, the reality is a bit more nuanced. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for badger
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badger
  1. tease
  2. rabbit
  3. hound
  4. fox
  5. raccoon
  6. marten
  7. otter
  8. beaver
Verb
  • While the flagship movie franchise is coming to an end, Diesel previously teased that NBCUniversal has four TV shows in development from the Fast & Furious world.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 4 July 2026
  • The featurette teases Zada as Haymitch, with scenes ranging from the literal sunrise on his Reaping Day to Capitol interviews to the Games itself.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 4 July 2026
Definition of tease
Noun
  • Plants tolerate a range of soils and are unbothered by rabbits or deer.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • There’s a bug-eyed rabbit, a blue donkey and several variations of what appear to be skulls.
    — Ryan Steven Green, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of rabbit
Verb
  • Whether or not Freddy deserved to be hounded off the internet didn’t really matter.
    — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
  • Speaking about the tumultuous relationship on a 2024 episode of SiriusXM's This Life of Mine with James Corden, Miller reflected on the boiling point between the scandalous affair and the chaos of the paparazzi and tabloids hounding them.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026
Definition of hound
Noun
  • Rabies is often found in bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes, but any mammal can be infected.
    — Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • There are numerous color choices, including toffee, fox, mood indigo, soft pink, blue pearl, lava rock, and toasted coconuts.
    — Terri Williams, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of fox
Noun
  • This enables researchers to track spatial and temporal trends for many Wisconsin species, such as black bears, bobcats, coyotes, opossum and raccoons.
    — Noël Fletcher, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Critter Control offers specialized pest control plans to get rid of raccoons, squirrels, rats, mice, bats and more.
    — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of raccoon
Noun
  • The ranch also may be home to threatened or endangered species, including Canada lynx, American marten, snowshoe hare and Gunnison’s prairie dog.
    — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 28 June 2026
  • Otters are part of the weasel family (Mustelidae), which includes some of nature’s most ferocious pint-sized predators, such as badgers, martens, and wolverines.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of marten
Noun
  • Sonoma County Animal Services said its officers responded to the resident's call and discovered that the otter was actually a tiny baby American mink.
    — Kassia Bonesteel, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • There’s an art gallery, the Birds of Prey Center, an otter exhibit, and Desertarium, which features turtles, snakes, lizards, frogs, and more.
    — Lauren Jones, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2026
Definition of otter
Noun
  • There’s the yellow, blue-nosed beaver Norb (Nick Bakay) — witty, sophisticated, sarcastic, and opinionated.
    — Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026
  • In recent years, however, beaver reintroductions have started to become more popular in the country because these semi-aquatic rodents are amazing natural engineers.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 18 June 2026
Definition of beaver

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Cite this Entry

“Badger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badger. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on badger

Nglish: Translation of badger for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about badger

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