Skip to main content
badgering

badgering

3 7.5
Repeated annoying demands or questions from someone
  • noun
  • /ˈbædʒərɪŋ/
translation icon : acoso
  • We probably agree that what Tim Russert did was acceptable in terms of being an aggressive questioner without going over the line from journalism to prosecutorial badgering.
  • constant badgering
  • badgering of the witness

Examples

  • I will not tolerate this unwarranted badgering of my client.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • "That is enough of your badgering," the Abbe said.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • I have to protect these fresh young faces from the captain's badgering.

  • For a long time, Isaac shrugged off his friend's badgering.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The badgering continued.

    Blog text (31)
  • We object to this entire line of questioning as argumentative and irrelevant badgering of the witness.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Miss Toller is clearly responding to defense counsel's badgering.

  • What adaptations her husband has received, such as grab rails to help him out of bed, have been a result of her constant badgering of the prison authorities, she says.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The constant badgering from her colleagues made it difficult for her to focus on her work.

  • He felt that their badgering was excessive and undermined his ability to make a decision.

Synonyms

harassment
vsbadgering
596 4.6

Repeatedly annoying or frightening someone to upset them

is repeated attempts to annoy or coerce someone
molestation
vsbadgering
  • Offensive
1 9.1

Repeated attacks or harsh treatment that hurt people over time

is harassment aimed at annoying or forcing someone through repetition
goading
vsbadgering
1 7.0

An act of trying to make someone do something by teasing or urging them again and again

is aimed at annoying or coercing rather than mainly urging action
bedevilment
vsbadgering
8.9

Repeated acts that keep annoying or hurting someone

is repeated annoying attempts that may also try to coerce someone
worrying
vsbadgering
3.9

Upsetting or bothering someone again and again

is more about annoying and coercing rather than causing concern
tantalization
vsbadgering
9.0

Teasing someone by keeping something they want out of reach

is general repeated annoyance or coercion, not focused on withheld rewards

How Persistent

badgering
3 7.5
pestering
3.2
nagging
1 4.6

Surface Forms

badgering singular
badgerings plural

Morphology

badgering = badger (transparent) = badger + ing

Formed from the verb 'badger' with the gerundial/nominal '-ing', so the meaning 'the act of badgering' is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

Badgering is easy to remember if you picture the animal badger, which digs and keeps bothering things; a helpful way to think of the word is 'to pester' someone again and again, which is why badgering means persistent harassment.