bug 1 of 2

noun

ˈbəg How to pronounce bug (audio)
Definition of bugnext
1
as in sucker
a person with a strong and habitual liking for something a camera bug who loves taking candid shots at fairs and festivals

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2
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning I can't go to work today because I've caught some bug that's going around

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bug

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts these incessant phone calls are really starting to bug me

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2
as in to bother
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation I hate to bug you, but could you help me move this table?

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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 bug
Noun
So a benchmark for a large language model today, like GPT-6 Astra or Claude Fable, might test an ability to solve difficult math problems or find security bugs in software. — Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026 The change won’t be noticed by most of us, and switching to continuous time will be easier for our digital infrastructure—there will be much less risk of bugs or service outages arising from a leap second discontinuity. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
Irwin is uncertain if the second infestation of bed bugs last weekend were ones that weren’t caught the first time, or if a person brought new bed bugs in. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2026 Not too much bugs him, but he sometimes is annoyed by his baby sister and doesn’t trust people who put pineapple on their pizza. — Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bug
  1. sucker
  2. disease
  3. annoy
  4. bother
  5. lover
  6. ailment
  7. irritate
  8. worry
Noun
  • The theory seems to be that there will always be another crop of suckers willing to pump money into the ecosystem, so the market will provide.
    — Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • These sucker shoots can quickly form a thicket of stems that are unsightly, inherently weak, and prone to storm damage if allowed to mature.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of sucker
Noun
  • Depending on the species, that could mean breeding animals in captivity and releasing them, restoring habitat, managing disease, or controlling invasive species.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Beeswax, honey, and pollen each possess their own particular antimicrobial and chemical properties that, taken together, repel disease and encourage helpful fungi.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of disease
Verb
  • The Biden administration also had a commitment to AI safety that annoyed AI companies.
    — Nina Verdelli, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Alan Cumming, please tell me if you were actually annoyed with Victor in that moment.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • The mathematics and computer science graduate, who spent two years in the Peace Corps, launched Netflix by mailing DVDs in red envelopes to customers bothered by Blockbuster Video chain’s practices and late fees.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Some people, like me, are bothered by such images but can mostly ignore them.
    — Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of bother
Noun
  • Overton, however, claimed that both informants were lying — and that the semen found on the comforter was planted on the scene by a spurned ex-lover with connections to the police department.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The professionalization worked, but at the expense of the site’s internal culture, Cooke argues, as generous eccentrics were displaced by neurotic lovers of rules.
    — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of lover
Noun
  • Now, with Garrett still dealing with a knee ailment in his own right, the Rams have been banged up with key players not just being down for a week or two, but prolonged recoveries.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The lack of clarity on the root of his ailments complicated the balancing act on both sides.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of ailment
Verb
  • These extra vessels increase inflammation and irritate surrounding nerves, making daily movement painful.
    — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The key is knowing what’s likely to irritate your skin during a flare and what may spark an issue day-to-day even when your skin is clear.
    — Kara McGrath, Allure, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritate
Verb
  • And experts now worry about their potential to reach the Great Lakes.
    — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • That worries Jonathan Jarry, a science communicator at McGill University’s Office for Science and Society in Montreal.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of worry

Phrases Containing bug

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buffs
bug
bugaboo
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Cite this Entry

“Bug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bug. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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